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

By Jason Reed | May 12, 2020

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 Focus on Sport/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Pat Riley, 1981-82

Westhead was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers to pave way for the assistant that Westhead hired to help the coaching staff when he took over the team just two years prior. Pat Riley was named the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, although the first option appeared to be Jerry West, and went from the interim head coach to one of the most successful coaches in franchise history.

The Lakers went 50-21 after Riley took over as head coach of the team and had an even more impressive showing in the playoffs that season. The Lakers lost just two games en route to winning the NBA Championship for the second time in the Showtime Era with both losses coming in the NBA Finals.

From there, Riley went on to have arguably the best start of a head coaching career in NBA history as the Lakers appeared in the NBA Finals three more years in a row, losing the first two and winning in 1985.

After losing in the Conference Finals the following year, Riley made it to another three consecutive NBA Finals, winning the first two, before departing to the New York Knicks.

Riley has the second-most games coached in Lakers’ history with the highest winning percentage. He is second in NBA Championships won with the team, trailing only the next coach on this list.

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