Lakers Coach Acknowledges LeBron James, Anthony Davis Backing

The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the 2019-20 NBA season among the favorites to make a deep run in the post-season after making some serious acquisitions via the free agency and trade markets. There is a lot of optimism surrounding the coming together of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who arrived via trade from New Orleans Pelicans, but there is concern over the ability of head coach Frank Vogel getting the best out of the duo.

Vogel was not the Lakers’ first choice to replace Luke Walton, who mutually agreed to part ways with the Los Angeles franchise after yet another disappointing campaign. They first interviewed Monty Williams, who eventually accepted the offer from Phoenix Suns and then Tyronn Lue became the frontrunner after holding multiple meetings with the Lakers.

The Lakers were hoping to land Lue, who has previously worked with and won an NBA championship with James during their time together in Cleveland. He was also said to be the three-time NBA champion’s preferred option to take the reins going into next season.

However, the Los Angeles franchise were unable to reach an agreement after they refused to meet Lue’s demands and then settled on Vogel for the head coaching position with Jason Kidd as his top assistant. Questions about James and Vogel’s relationship going forward were immediately raised but Vogel, in a recent interview, confirmed he has the support of Lakers’ best player and revealed that he has the same connection with Davis – the team’s second big star.

“It became very clear that I was going to have the support of my best player in LeBron once I took the job, and since Anthony has come aboard it’s the same way. We’re very aligned in the vision of how we’re going to play and what we’re going to be, and what we’re going to get accomplished on the basketball court. There’s a mutual respect there, and I can’t wait to get started,” Vogel said, as quoted on Silver Screen and Roll.

There are still three months to go for the start of the new season and the players and head coach are yet to take part in a scheduled practice session. There is unlikely to be any talks of a rift before the campaign gets underway and it will certainly depend on the kind of start the Lakers make before any talks about the head coach and the star player emerges.