According to reports, the Los Angeles Lakers met with Mike Dunleavy Sr. about possibly filling their head coaching vacancy. Dunleavy was previously interviewed by the team back in the 2012-13 season before hiring Mike D’Antoni and he also led the team to the 1991 NBA Finals, only to lose to Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls.
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Dunleavy recently talked to ESPN LA 710 Radio and chimed in on the Lakers and the current state of the team. The former coach also discussed D’Antoni’s tenure with the team and his theory as to why the Lakers struggled so mightily these past two seasons:
I think the last couple of years, the biggest problem really has been just been matching the personnel to the system. Mike D’Antoni, I think is a really good coach. I think he’s got a really great system. I don’t think the players ever fit his system. And on the other side of it, with the guys they had, their system I feel like would fit great with what I would do.
I think I’ve proven along the way, first of all, I win where I’m supposed to win. Secondly, I have coached many stars, and I’ve coached a lot of guys that haven’t been easy to coach, not that that’s the case with the Lakers.
Shortly after the news broke about the Lakers interviewing Dunleavy, fans were not to happy with the possibility of him running the sidelines. At this point, Dunleavy and Byron Scott have both met with the team and saying that most fans prefer Scott over Dunleavy is surely an understatement.
The team’s coaching search is expected to be a long, grueling process and a plethora of other names will be added to mix in the weeks to come.
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