Frank Vogel, the former NBA champion coach, has been conspicuously absent from the public eye since his dismissal from the Los Angeles Lakers in April 2022. This has left many NBA fans curious about his whereabouts and future plans.
Vogel’s last public appearance was during a postgame reaction to the Lakers’ victory over the Denver Nuggets on April 10, 2022. This overtime win turned out to be Vogel’s swan song as the Lakers’ coach, as he was let go the following day after a disappointing season.
However, Vogel was spotted at a Dallas Mavericks training session in September 2022, suggesting that he is likely keeping a low profile after his stint in LA. His presence at the training session is not surprising, given his love for the game and his close relationship with Jason Kidd, the current head coach of the Mavericks and Vogel’s former assistant coach.
Vogel’s coaching career in the NBA spans several years, with his most notable achievement being his tenure as the head coach of the Lakers from 2019 to 2022. During this period, he led the team to an NBA championship in his first season with a regular season record of 52-19. Prior to the Lakers, Vogel served as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic, and held various roles with the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Washington Wizards.
Vogel’s dismissal from the Lakers came after a season that fell short of the high expectations set for the team. Despite having a roster filled with experienced players, the Lakers were plagued by injuries to key players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The team’s performance declined significantly in 2022, culminating in their elimination from the playoff picture with a loss to the Phoenix Suns.
The decision to trade for Russel Westbrook was also seen as a contributing factor to Vogel’s dismissal. While the trade was a headline-grabbing move, it resulted in the loss of key players Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. Furthermore, Westbrook’s style of play, which involves having the ball a lot, was not ideal when sharing the court with LeBron James.
As of now, Vogel’s current whereabouts and plans are unknown. He is likely enjoying some downtime with his wife, Jenifer, and making the most of their home in Manhattan Beach. Whether he will return to basketball remains to be seen.
As the famous South African golfer Gary Player once said, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” Vogel’s journey through the NBA is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the game, and we can only wait to see what the future holds for him.
