The Los Angeles Lakers have been very active when it comes to assembling their coaching staff for next season. Since the firing of Luke Walton, the front office has hired Frank Vogel and also Jason Kidd. Now, Lionel Hollins will be joining the team coaching staff as an assistant coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN.
The Lakers are hiring Lionel Hollins as an assistant coach, league sources tell ESPN. Hollins is the all-time winningest coach in Memphis and also led Brooklyn to the playoffs. Hollins joins Jason Kidd on Frank Vogel’s new staff.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2019
Hollins’ NBA journey began when the Portland Trail Blazers drafted him back in 1975. During his playing career, he made one all-star game and won a championship with the Blazers in the 1977 NBA Finals. After he retired, Hollins spent the better part of 19 seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA.
Hollins first broke in as an NBA head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2008 to 2013 and the Brooklyn Nets from 2014 to 2016. In his time with the Grizzlies, he made the playoffs three times and reached the Conference Finals in 2013. Hollins is also the Grizzlies winningest coach with 214 regular season wins and 18 playoff wins.
In his time in Brooklyn, he made the playoffs in his first season with the team. In that appearance, they lost in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks. In all his time as a head coach, Hollins has a record of 282-293, including playoffs games, giving him a 49% winning percentage.
