Phil Handy Issues Emotional Statement After End Of 5-Year Tenure With The Lakers

Beloved former Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy has shared an emotional goodbye letter marking the end of his time with the Lakers.

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Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers have gone through four coaches since 2018, but Phil Handy has been a constant in the locker room since Frank Vogel was hired in 2019. He survived Vogel’s firing but couldn’t survive Darvin Ham’s firing, with the Lakers letting him go and announcing a new group of assistants behind JJ Redick. Handy shared a long overdue goodbye letter for Lakers fans on his Instagram.

“Laker Nation, long overdue… 5 years in the books and y’all held me down from start to finish. The amount of love LakeShow fans showed me over the years has been unreal! I will be forever grateful for the outpouring support yall showed the OG. We did the thing in 2020 and tried every year to compete for more. The business of basketball is not always easy or fair but you all know what I’m about with this game and any player I have I’ve ever worked with @beyourowngoat … Yall know what it is.”

Handy is considered one of the best player development coaches in the NBA. He has worked closely with a who’s-who of NBA stars in the past, with Kyrie Irving being one of his most notable success stories. Handy also worked extensively to help Austin Reaves develop from an undrafted rookie to the third option on the Lakers within a few seasons.

Many believe the Lakers should have retained Handy once again for Redick’s staff, but it seems the front office wanted to give Redick the latitude to pick his own staff from scratch. While the new group of assistants on the Lakers is extremely solid, players will miss Handy’s presence.


JJ Redick Has High Expectations From The Coaches On His Staff

Rookie head coach JJ Redick needed to have an amazing cast of assistants around him to help him navigate the world of coaching in the NBA, for which he has former head coaches such as Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks to give him advice. Redick laid out what went into picking the Lakers coaching group for this season and what he expects out of them.

“Through an intentional and thorough process, we’ve brought together an experienced, diverse, and dedicated coaching staff. Our goal from day one is to foster a high-performing environment of player development and team alignment through relentless work, daily collaboration, and innovation.”

“Players and staff are here to enjoy the pursuit of excellence every time they step on the court. The expectations are clear, and my staff and I are committed to doing everything necessary to ensure success at the highest level.” 

Given how much Lakers fans blamed Darvin Ham for the team’s failures last season, Redick should know that he will be under the spotlight from day one. He needs coaches like the ones they’ve signed to help him acclimatize to NBA coaching while filling in any gaps Redick’s inexperience may cause.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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