Lakers News: Recent LA Assistant Coach Sheds Light On Next Career Steps

He was a key part of Frank Vogel's most recent staff.

Journeyman NBA point guard-turned-critical Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach John Lucas III recently sat down with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson of Bovada Sports to talk about his longevity in the league as a player, his work as a coach, the burdens of being the son of a famous NBA star both for himself and for Bronny and Bryce James, and his plans for his future in the league.

"Man, a little bit of everything," Lucas replied when asked by Robinson about what he hoped was next for his career. "Obviously I want to get back into coaching. I want to be a head coach one day in the league. And once I'm done coaching, I want to move into the front office." 

"I want to be able to orchestrate a team the way some of my colleagues are doing now, from Kyle Korver to Landry Fields to James Jones out here in Phoenix to Elgin Brand out in Philly. I feel like, as former players, we know how to put pieces to the puzzle together, we know what works and what [doesn't] work. I feel like I want to at least try to orchestrate a team... And you can see the job that James Jones and Elgin Brand [have] done for their teams."

Lucas, who was hired as part of Vogel's staff ahead of the team's ill-fated 2021-22 season (doomed from the jump thanks to horrendous roster construction, not so much any coaching issues). He is now a coaching free agent.

After going undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2005, Lucas bounced around various pro leagues, including in China and Italy and the then-D-League (now the G League), while also cameoing with the Houston Rockets during the 2005-06 season.

He finally latched on with the Chicago Bulls during the 2010-11 season, and managed to also secure stints with the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. He then transitioned to an assistant coaching gig under then-Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau from 2017-19 before joining Los Angeles. Here's hoping he gets his next opportunity sooner rather than later.

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