Lakers fire Vogel after disappointing 33-49 season

The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Frank Vogel after ending the season below expectations with a 33-49 record and failing to qualify for the playoffs.

Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka announced the decision in a news release and thanked Vogel for his tenure with the franchise.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Frank both on and off the court," said Pelinka. "Frank is a great coach and a good man. We will forever be grateful to him for his work in guiding us to the 2019-20 NBA championship. This is an incredibly difficult decision to make, but one we feel is necessary at this point. All of us here wish Frank and his wonderful family all the best for the future."

The Lakers started the 2021-22 season as Western Conference favorites but struggled during the season with injuries and roster management issues. Los Angeles lost 18 of 24 games following the All-Star break and was eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday after a 121-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Pelinka declined to provide details about the decision and focused on Vogel's accomplishments as the 27th head coach in Lakers history.

"Today is not going to be a day of finger-pointing and unwinding all the specific reasons," Pelinka said. "We just felt organizationally, at the highest level, it was time for a new voice. ... That's not to say anything against the incredible accomplishments that Frank Vogel has had. He was a great coach here, and he's going to go on to be a great coach somewhere else."

Vogel had success in his first year after he led Los Angeles to a 52-19 regular-season record and the franchise's 17th NBA championship. During his three seasons with the Lakers, he compiled a 127-98 regular-season record and went 18-9 in the postseason.

Vogel, 48, has coached 11 seasons in the NBA for an overall 431-389 regular-season record and a 48-39 record in the postseason with the Lakers, Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers.