Lakers' Frank Vogel: 'I Don’t Feel Like I’m Under Siege' Amid Job Security Rumors

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 20, 2022

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a play during the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on January 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

Despite growing buzz that Frank Vogel is on the hot seat, and his job security may be determined on a game-by-game basis, the Los Angeles Lakers head coach told reporters on Wednesday he wasn't feeling the pressure.

"I don't feel like I’m under siege," he said. "It's not hard to do my job... It's not up to me if it's fair or not."

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel says his relationship with the Lakers front office is “healthy” and that everyone in the organization is working together to improve the team. He says he’s “blocking out” the noise about his job security and is continuing to lock in on winning night to night.

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Frank Vogel says there’s been nothing abnormal about his level of interaction with the Lakers’ front office as of late. Business as usual. As far as speculation about his job, he says, “I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Shows there is a standard and expectation as LAL coach.

Bill Oram @billoram
Frank Vogel, asked by <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mcten</a> about feedback on his job performance: “I meet with the front office and talk about the previous night’s performance every game this year. Been doing that for three years.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Bill Oram and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Vogel's job was in "serious jeopardy" and is being "evaluated on a game-to-game basis and is at risk of being fired if progress doesn't continue after Monday's win over the Utah Jazz."

But Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that "people with knowledge of the situation insist 'there are no current plans' to replace Vogel—a sign that the coach has navigated through the latest drama surrounding his position."

Per that report, a loss against the Jazz on Monday could have been "the final straw" for Vogel, however.

The Lakers are just 22-22 on the season, a disappointing mark for a team with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. Whether Vogel deserves to be groomed as the fall guy for those struggles is debatable, however.

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For one, Davis has missed a big chunk of the season because of injuries. And L.A.'s roster construction has been questionable at best, with Westbrook in particular an unnatural fit next to James, given that both players are at their best running an offense.

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“Frank Vogel being the scapegoat is ridiculous. … I want to see LeBron James and Anthony Davis actually come out and stand up for [him], because it’s not Frank Vogel’s fault why the Lakers are in the position that they’re in right now.”<br><br>—<a href="https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KendrickPerkins</a> <a href="https://t.co/bn723RXGK9">pic.twitter.com/bn723RXGK9</a>

The Lakers should be better than they've been, even with the questionable personnel fits. Vogel bears some of the blame. Whether he deserves enough blame to be fired is another question entirely, however.

For now, the job is his. But the embers underneath his seat don't appear to have cooled completely.