The Los Angeles Lakers formally announced the addition of four major contributors to their 2021-22 team on Wednesday.
In a press release, the team made official the two newest members of Frank Vogel's coaching staff: David Fizdale and John Lucas III. Both moves were previously reported but not formalized. The Lakers also announced the hiring of Roger Sancho as Head Athletic Trainer and Ed Streit as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Fizdale spent four seasons coaching LeBron James as an assistant with the Miami Heat and developed a close bond with James. It will be Fizdale's first coaching gig since he was fired by the New York Knicks in 2020 after two-plus seasons on the job. Fizdale previously served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2016-18.
ESPN reported Lucas III's hiring on Saturday. Lucas III played eight seasons in the NBA and most recently worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as a player development coach. He shares this connection with LeBron James:
Fizdale and Lucas III will replace Jason Kidd and Lionel Hollins on the Lakers' coaching staff. They'll join incumbents Phil Handy, Mike Penberthy, Quinton Crawford, and Miles Simon (who will also coach the G League's South Bay Lakers) on the bench.
Following an injury-riddled 2020-21 season in which Anthony Davis was never 100% and was arguably mismanaged prior to his Achilles strain, the Lakers fired Nina Hsieh, who had served as the Head Athletic Trainer for two seasons, including on the 2020 championship squad.
It had remained unclear who would take over for Hsieh, but evidently, the job has gone to Sancho, who spent the past seven seasons as the assistant athletic trainer for the Golden State Warriors.
Streit has been the Lakers' assistant strength and conditioning coach since the 2019-20 season.
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