List of Los Angeles Lakers head coaches
Updated: 11/5/2025, 10:03:22 PM Wikipedia source
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. formerly known as the Detroit Gems from 1947 to 1948 and the Minneapolis Lakers from 1948 to 1960. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Lakers have played their home games at the Crypto.com Arena since 1999. The franchise took its official name from Minnesota's nickname, the Land of 10,000 Lakes. At the time the name was revealed, the Lakers were in Minneapolis. In their franchise history, the team has only missed the NBA playoffs 11 times. According to Forbes magazine, the Lakers are the second most valuable basketball franchise in the NBA, valued at approximately US$4.4 billion, surpassed only by the New York Knicks. The Lakers are majority-owned by Jerry Buss's family trust, while Rob Pelinka is the general manager. The franchise has had 31 head coaches, including 29 since joining the NBA. The franchise's first head coach was Joel Mason, while its first coach in the NBA was John Kundla, who coached for 12 seasons with the Lakers in the NBL, BAA and NBA and winning 6 combined NBL/BAA/NBA championships. Phil Jackson is the franchise's all-time leader for the most regular-season games coached (902), most playoff games coached (181), most regular-season game wins (610), and most playoff wins (118). The Lakers have won 17 BAA/NBA championships; five with Kundla, five with Jackson, four with Riley, one with Bill Sharman, one with Paul Westhead, and one with Frank Vogel. With the Lakers, Sharman, Riley, and Del Harris have won the NBA Coach of the Year Award, in 1972, 1990, and 1995 respectively. Kundla, Sharman, Riley, and Jackson have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Jerry West, Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, and Luke Walton have all played and coached for the Lakers.
Tables
· Key
W
W
GC
W
Games coached
Wins
L
L
GC
L
Games coached
Losses
Win%
Win%
GC
Win%
Games coached
Winning percentage
#
#
GC
#
Games coached
Number of coaches .mw- [a]
†
†
GC
†
Games coached
Elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach
†
†
GC
†
Games coached
Elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach andspent entire coaching career with the Lakers
| GC | Games coached |
| W | Wins |
| L | Losses |
| Win% | Winning percentage |
| # | Number of coaches [a] |
| Spent entire NBA head coaching career with the Lakers | |
| † | Elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach |
| † | Elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach andspent entire coaching career with the Lakers |
· Coaches › NBL
Playoffs
Playoffs
#
Regular season
Name
Playoffs
Joel Mason
1946
1946–1947
Joel Mason
#
1
Name
Joel Mason
Term[b]
1946–1947
GC
16
W
3
L
13
Win%
188
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Fred Campbell
Fred Campbell
#
2
Name
Fred Campbell
Term[b]
1947
GC
28
W
1
L
27
Win%
004
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
John Kundla*†
1947
1947–1948
John Kundla*†
#
3
Name
John Kundla*†
Term[b]
1947–1948
GC
60
W
43
L
17
Win%
717
GC
10
W
8
L
2
Win%
800
Achievements
1 Championship (1948)1 WPBT championship (1948)
| # | Name | Term[b] | GC | W | L | Win% | GC | W | L | Win% | Achievements | Reference |
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
| Detroit Gems | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Joel Mason | 1946–1947 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 188 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2 | Fred Campbell | 1947 | 28 | 1 | 27 | 004 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Minneapolis Lakers | ||||||||||||
| 3 | John Kundla*† | 1947–1948 | 60 | 43 | 17 | 717 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 800 | 1 Championship (1948)1 WPBT championship (1948) | |
· Coaches › BAA/NBA
Playoffs
Playoffs
#
Regular season
Name
Playoffs
John Kundla*†
1948
1948–1957
John Kundla*†
#
1
Name
John Kundla*†
Term[b]
1948–1957
GC
653
W
390
L
263
Win%
597
GC
82
W
54
L
28
Win%
659
Achievements
5 Championships (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954)One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history
George Mikan*
1957
1957–1958
George Mikan*
#
2
Name
George Mikan*
Term[b]
1957–1958
GC
39
W
9
L
30
Win%
231
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
John Kundla*†
1958
1958–1959
John Kundla*†
#
—
Name
John Kundla*†
Term[b]
1958–1959
GC
72
W
33
L
39
Win%
458
GC
13
W
6
L
7
Win%
462
Achievements
One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history
John Castellani*
1959
1959–1960
John Castellani*
#
3
Name
John Castellani*
Term[b]
1959–1960
GC
36
W
11
L
25
Win%
306
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Jim Pollard
Jim Pollard
#
4
Name
Jim Pollard
Term[b]
1960
GC
39
W
14
L
25
Win%
359
GC
9
W
5
L
4
Win%
556
Fred Schaus*
1960
1960–1967
Fred Schaus*
#
5
Name
Fred Schaus*
Term[b]
1960–1967
GC
560
W
315
L
245
Win%
563
GC
71
W
33
L
38
Win%
465
Butch van Breda Kolff
1967
1967–1969
Butch van Breda Kolff
#
6
Name
Butch van Breda Kolff
Term[b]
1967–1969
GC
164
W
107
L
57
Win%
652
GC
33
W
21
L
12
Win%
636
Joe Mullaney
1969
1969–1971
Joe Mullaney
#
7
Name
Joe Mullaney
Term[b]
1969–1971
GC
164
W
94
L
70
Win%
573
GC
30
W
16
L
14
Win%
533
Bill Sharman†
1971
1971–1976
Bill Sharman†
#
8
Name
Bill Sharman†
Term[b]
1971–1976
GC
410
W
246
L
164
Win%
600
GC
37
W
22
L
15
Win%
595
Achievements
1971–72 NBA Coach of the Year1 Championship (1972)
Jerry West*
1976
1976–1979
Jerry West*
#
9
Name
Jerry West*
Term[b]
1976–1979
GC
246
W
145
L
101
Win%
589
GC
22
W
8
L
14
Win%
364
Jack McKinney
Jack McKinney
#
10
Name
Jack McKinney
Term[b]
1979
GC
14
W
10
L
4
Win%
714
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Paul Westhead
1979
1979–1981
Paul Westhead
#
11
Name
Paul Westhead
Term[b]
1979–1981
GC
161
W
111
L
50
Win%
689
GC
19
W
13
L
6
Win%
684
Achievements
1 Championship (1980)
Pat Riley
1981
1981–1990
Pat Riley
#
12
Name
Pat Riley
Term[b]
1981–1990
GC
727
W
533
L
194
Win%
733
GC
149
W
102
L
47
Win%
685
Achievements
1989–90 NBA Coach of the Year4 Championships (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history
Mike Dunleavy
1990
1990–1992
Mike Dunleavy
#
13
Name
Mike Dunleavy
Term[b]
1990–1992
GC
164
W
101
L
63
Win%
616
GC
23
W
13
L
10
Win%
565
Achievements
McDonald's Open winner (1991)
Randy Pfund*
1992
1992–1994
Randy Pfund*
#
14
Name
Randy Pfund*
Term[b]
1992–1994
GC
146
W
66
L
80
Win%
452
GC
5
W
2
L
3
Win%
400
Bill Bertka*
Bill Bertka*
#
15
Name
Bill Bertka*
Term[b]
1994
GC
2
W
1
L
1
Win%
500
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Magic Johnson*
Magic Johnson*
#
16
Name
Magic Johnson*
Term[b]
1994
GC
16
W
5
L
11
Win%
313
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Del Harris
1994
1994–1999
Del Harris
#
17
Name
Del Harris
Term[b]
1994–1999
GC
340
W
224
L
116
Win%
659
GC
36
W
17
L
19
Win%
472
Achievements
1994–95 NBA Coach of the Year
Bill Bertka*
Bill Bertka*
#
—
Name
Bill Bertka*
Term[b]
1999
GC
1
W
1
L
0
Win%
1.000
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Kurt Rambis
Kurt Rambis
#
18
Name
Kurt Rambis
Term[b]
1999
GC
37
W
24
L
13
Win%
649
GC
8
W
3
L
5
Win%
375
Phil Jackson
1999
1999–2004
Phil Jackson
#
19
Name
Phil Jackson
Term[b]
1999–2004
GC
410
W
287
L
123
Win%
700
GC
92
W
64
L
28
Win%
696
Achievements
3 Championships (2000, 2001, 2002)One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history
Rudy Tomjanovich
2004
2004–2005
Rudy Tomjanovich
#
20
Name
Rudy Tomjanovich
Term[b]
2004–2005
GC
43
W
24
L
19
Win%
558
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Frank Hamblen
Frank Hamblen
#
21
Name
Frank Hamblen
Term[b]
2005
GC
39
W
10
L
29
Win%
256
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Phil Jackson
2005
2005–2011
Phil Jackson
#
—
Name
Phil Jackson
Term[b]
2005–2011
GC
492
W
323
L
169
Win%
657
GC
89
W
54
L
35
Win%
607
Achievements
2 Championships (2009, 2010)One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history
Mike Brown
2011
2011–2012
Mike Brown
#
22
Name
Mike Brown
Term[b]
2011–2012
GC
71
W
42
L
29
Win%
591
GC
12
W
5
L
7
Win%
417
Bernie Bickerstaff
Bernie Bickerstaff
#
23
Name
Bernie Bickerstaff
Term[b]
2012
GC
5
W
4
L
1
Win%
800
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Mike D'Antoni
2012
2012–2014
Mike D'Antoni
#
24
Name
Mike D'Antoni
Term[b]
2012–2014
GC
154
W
67
L
87
Win%
435
GC
4
W
0
L
4
Win%
000
Byron Scott
2014
2014–2016
Byron Scott
#
25
Name
Byron Scott
Term[b]
2014–2016
GC
164
W
38
L
126
Win%
227
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Luke Walton
2016
2016–2019
Luke Walton
#
26
Name
Luke Walton
Term[b]
2016–2019
GC
246
W
98
L
148
Win%
398
GC
—
W
—
L
—
Win%
—
Frank Vogel
2019
2019–2022
Frank Vogel
#
27
Name
Frank Vogel
Term[b]
2019–2022
GC
225
W
127
L
98
Win%
564
GC
27
W
18
L
9
Win%
667
Achievements
1 Championship (2020)
Darvin Ham
2022
2022–2024
Darvin Ham
#
28
Name
Darvin Ham
Term[b]
2022–2024
GC
164
W
90
L
74
Win%
549
GC
16
W
9
L
12
Win%
429
Achievements
1 NBA Cup (2023)
JJ Redick
JJ Redick
#
29
Name
JJ Redick
Term[b]
2024–present
GC
82
W
50
L
32
Win%
610
GC
5
W
1
L
4
Win%
200
| # | Name | Term[b] | GC | W | L | Win% | GC | W | L | Win% | Achievements | Reference |
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
| Minneapolis Lakers | ||||||||||||
| 1 | John Kundla*† | 1948–1957 | 653 | 390 | 263 | 597 | 82 | 54 | 28 | 659 | 5 Championships (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954)One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history | |
| 2 | George Mikan* | 1957–1958 | 39 | 9 | 30 | 231 | — | — | — | — | ||
| — | John Kundla*† | 1958–1959 | 72 | 33 | 39 | 458 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 462 | One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history | |
| 3 | John Castellani* | 1959–1960 | 36 | 11 | 25 | 306 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 4 | Jim Pollard | 1960 | 39 | 14 | 25 | 359 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 556 | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Fred Schaus* | 1960–1967 | 560 | 315 | 245 | 563 | 71 | 33 | 38 | 465 | ||
| 6 | Butch van Breda Kolff | 1967–1969 | 164 | 107 | 57 | 652 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 636 | ||
| 7 | Joe Mullaney | 1969–1971 | 164 | 94 | 70 | 573 | 30 | 16 | 14 | 533 | ||
| 8 | Bill Sharman† | 1971–1976 | 410 | 246 | 164 | 600 | 37 | 22 | 15 | 595 | 1971–72 NBA Coach of the Year1 Championship (1972) | |
| 9 | Jerry West* | 1976–1979 | 246 | 145 | 101 | 589 | 22 | 8 | 14 | 364 | ||
| 10 | Jack McKinney | 1979 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 714 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 11 | Paul Westhead | 1979–1981 | 161 | 111 | 50 | 689 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 684 | 1 Championship (1980) | |
| 12 | Pat Riley | 1981–1990 | 727 | 533 | 194 | 733 | 149 | 102 | 47 | 685 | 1989–90 NBA Coach of the Year4 Championships (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history | |
| 13 | Mike Dunleavy | 1990–1992 | 164 | 101 | 63 | 616 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 565 | McDonald's Open winner (1991) | |
| 14 | Randy Pfund* | 1992–1994 | 146 | 66 | 80 | 452 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 400 | ||
| 15 | Bill Bertka* | 1994 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 500 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 16 | Magic Johnson* | 1994 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 313 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 17 | Del Harris | 1994–1999 | 340 | 224 | 116 | 659 | 36 | 17 | 19 | 472 | 1994–95 NBA Coach of the Year | |
| — | Bill Bertka* | 1999 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 18 | Kurt Rambis | 1999 | 37 | 24 | 13 | 649 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 375 | ||
| 19 | Phil Jackson | 1999–2004 | 410 | 287 | 123 | 700 | 92 | 64 | 28 | 696 | 3 Championships (2000, 2001, 2002)One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history | |
| 20 | Rudy Tomjanovich | 2004–2005 | 43 | 24 | 19 | 558 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 21 | Frank Hamblen | 2005 | 39 | 10 | 29 | 256 | — | — | — | — | ||
| — | Phil Jackson | 2005–2011 | 492 | 323 | 169 | 657 | 89 | 54 | 35 | 607 | 2 Championships (2009, 2010)One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history | |
| 22 | Mike Brown | 2011–2012 | 71 | 42 | 29 | 591 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 417 | ||
| 23 | Bernie Bickerstaff | 2012 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 800 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 24 | Mike D'Antoni | 2012–2014 | 154 | 67 | 87 | 435 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 000 | ||
| 25 | Byron Scott | 2014–2016 | 164 | 38 | 126 | 227 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 26 | Luke Walton | 2016–2019 | 246 | 98 | 148 | 398 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 27 | Frank Vogel | 2019–2022 | 225 | 127 | 98 | 564 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 667 | 1 Championship (2020) | |
| 28 | Darvin Ham | 2022–2024 | 164 | 90 | 74 | 549 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 429 | 1 NBA Cup (2023) | |
| 29 | JJ Redick | 2024–present | 82 | 50 | 32 | 610 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 200 | ||
References
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