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Los Angeles Lakers: The four head coaches that won the title in year one

By Jason Reed

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 10: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a preseason game as part of 2019 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 10, 2019 in Shanghai, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 10: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a preseason game as part of 2019 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 10, 2019 in Shanghai, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Frank Vogel is looking to join an illustrious list in Los Angeles Lakers‘ history if the NBA is able to resume action and finish the 2019-2020 season: he would become the fifth head coach in Lakers history to win the NBA Championship in his first year as the head coach.

It is honestly quite remarkable that the Los Angeles Lakers have four former head coaches that won the title in their first year with the team. That shows just as prestigious and successful that the Lakers franchise has been throughout its existence.

If Vogel does manage to become the fourth head coach in team history to pull off the feat, he would be joining three Hall of Famers, and one outlier.

The four head coaches to win the NBA Championship in their first season coaching the Los Angeles Lakers:

1. Bill Sharman, 1971-72

Out of any of the four coaches on this list, Bill Sharman’s championship with the 1971-1972 Lakers might be the most important from a legacy standpoint as is was a massive deal for the logo of the NBA — Jerry West.

West was 0-7 in the NBA Finals prior to this season and this would be the only championship that West would win in nine appearances.

This team has some of the greatest basketball players of all-time on it. It was the last season of Elgin Baylor’s career, although he was not a factor in the championship, and included Wilt Chamberlain and Gail Goodrich.

Chamberlain was the Finals MVP and the Lakers posted the best record in franchise history (and league history until the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls), with a 69-13 record. This team still has the record for the longest winning streak in NBA history at 33 games.

Sharman coached another four seasons with the Lakers and after two more playoff appearances, the Lakers had back-to-back losing seasons under Sharman.

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