On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers announced the hiring of Kurt Rambis and Johnny Davis to Mike D’Antoni’s coaching staff. With the recent announcement of Mark Madsen and Larry Lewis as player development coaches, the Lakers’ coaching staff now consists of five assistants. Dan D’Antoni, Mike’s brother and roommate, is the only returning staff member.
Rambis returns to the sidelines after serving as a Lakers’ assistant from 1994-1999. After an interim head coaching assignment and a couple years away, Rambis returned to serve the Lakers from 2001-04 and 2005-09. Also, the former Lakers player went up to Minnesota for two seasons as head coach of the Timberwolves.
Davis’ NBA coaching experiences stretches back more than two decades. Over the past 10 years, Davis was an assistant with the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, and Minnesota Timberwolves. He also served as head coach with the Orlando Magic from 2003-05 and head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1996-97 season.
“Kurt and Johnny bring many years of NBA experience both as coaches and as former players to this team,” Lakers Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Kurt is a great basketball mind, extremely good at working with big men and his experience as a head coach in this league is going to prove very helpful to our staff. Johnny is a two-time NBA head coach with years of experience playing as well as coaching in this league. The vast array of NBA knowledge he brings to the table will be invaluable to us.”
After parting with everyone not named D’Antoni from the coaching staff last season, the Lakers have added two experienced and proven members to the staff. Also, the Lakers recently signed Elias Harris to the squad, so the roster is up to 13 players--assuming rookie Ryan Kelly is signed before the season.
With the Lakers’ magic number for players expected to be 14 players, the 2013-14 Los Angeles Lakers team is one announcement away from being fully assembled.
