Frank Vogel also brings the lessons of the Lakers title to the Mavs bench

What do they have in common? Frank VogelJason Kidd, Phil Handy and Mike Penberthy? Answer 1: a title with the Lakers in 2020 Answer 2: today, almost five years to the day, everyone is on the Mavs’ organizational chart. The ridiculous “transfer” between these two franchises is forever linked by this exchange surrounding Luka Doncic, which turned the basketball world upside down last February.

The first, now the first assistant of the man who assisted him in Los Angeles, keeps fresh memories of the events of five years ago. And don’t hesitate to discuss it again with the Texas protagonists.

« It was the highlight of my coaching career. I haven’t been that high since then, so I really appreciate the opportunity the Lakers gave me back then, with that team. I talked to Kyrie (Irving) a little bit this year about the strength of our coaching staff, but also the talent that we had and how the pieces fit together. We managed to achieve something special », qualifies Frank Vogel.

Something special in the heart of the special context of the Orlando bubble created by the Covid epidemic. A title acquired under unique conditions that lead some to do sothe star deserves to be attached to the 2020 trophy. The former “selector” reminds them that his team was already number 1 when he transferred to Florida.

“We wanted to win”

« We entered the bubble as the best team in the league, the first seeds. We wanted to win this title, whether it was on the bubble or in the Staples Center. We wanted to win. We were convinced of that “, remembers the technician whose team finished with 52 wins and 19 losses. ” We had to overcome obstacles, interruptions. But we wanted to win, no matter what Frank Vogel insisted.

The latter reminds that the team members were unique as never before because of the context. “ This time spent together greatly contributed to our cohesion. I try to recreate that as much as possible, even outside the bubble. Dinners on the go, at home, anything that can bring the team together. Little everyday things. »

« The referees, the reporters, the media, everybody, the people in the league office, the players, we were all in it together. And it was probably the strangest time in world history. And we all went through it together, figuring out how to get through it », says Frank Vogel, who therefore puts the notion of cohesion at the heart of the upcoming season among the Mavs.