The Golden State Warriors have officially hired former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel to become the associate head coach on Steve Kerr’s staff.
The move has sparked conversation around the NBA, as Vogel coached LeBron James in Los Angeles from 2019 to 2022, leading many to speculate it could be the team’s latest effort to recruit the 22-time All-Star to Golden State.
NBA World Reacts As Warriors Hire Frank Vogel
NBA Insider Shams Charania broke the news Sunday evening, reporting, “Longtime NBA coach Frank Vogel has agreed to become the associate head coach for the Golden State Warriors under head coach Steve Kerr, sources tell ESPN.”
The NBA community was quick to connect the dots and even start some rumors in the process. One Warriors fan account on X simply wrote, “LeBron coming to the Warriors.”
LeBron coming to the Warriors https://t.co/l3w0TeVj0I pic.twitter.com/YfrUcbYyXl
— Curry Flurry 😈 (@BabyFaceDubs) July 12, 2026
Another influencer reacted, “Bron a Warrior, I’m gone bro,” expressing disbelief that James could join his longtime rival.
A third user left his message up for interpretation, exclaiming, “Interesting, but awesome hire!”
Interesting, but awesome hire! https://t.co/08v0kbEx0L
— CeeJay (@ceejaytalksball) July 12, 2026
On a separate note, the NBA world seemed to love the hire from a strictly coaching standpoint. One observer shared, “Wanted Frank in Denver. Good for him.”
“Warriors got their new defensive coach – this is really good news because Frank Vogel is super reputable,” an influencer stated. “Tom Thibodeau would have been ideal, but Vogel is a pretty damn good alternative. Newfound hope for better defense, which has escaped this team since losing Mike Brown.”
Warriors got their new defensive coach – this is really good news because Frank Vogel is super reputable.
Tom Thibodeau would have been ideal, but Vogel is a pretty damn good alternative. Newfound hope for better defense, which has escaped this team since losing Mike Brown 🙏 https://t.co/8wGJTrdhaC
— Jim Park🏀🌌 (@Sheridanblog) July 12, 2026
“Really liking this hire,” an NBA writer added. “Vogel has been one of the premier defensive coaches in the NBA. Would expect him to handle that side of the floor next season.”
Really liking this hire. Vogel has been one of the premier defensive coaches in the NBA. Would expect him to handle that side of the floor next season. https://t.co/a0nTsyhWJ3
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) July 12, 2026
During Vogel’s first season with the Lakers in 2019-20, he coached the team to the NBA’s third-best defensive rating during the regular season (106.1) and the sixth-best mark in the playoffs (108.7), when LA went on to win the championship. The following season, the Lakers took another leap defensively under Vogel, finishing with the league’s No. 1 regular-season defensive rating (106.8).
Vogel is now set to join a Warriors team that ranked in the middle of the pack defensively during the 2025-26 season, finishing 16th in defensive rating (114.4). With his experience and guidance, along with the impending return of Jimmy Butler III from injury and Kristaps Porziņģis potentially entering the season healthy, the Warriors’ defense should see significant improvement during the 2026-27 campaign.
As for James, it’s unlikely that Vogel’s hiring will have a major impact on his decision. If he ultimately makes the move to Golden State, it would likely be to join forces with close friends and future Hall of Famers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. An announcement doesn’t appear imminent, but the situation should still be worth monitoring over the coming weeks.
