With the NBA Playoffs in full swing, basketball fans are able to watch some of the best in the world go head-to-head on a nightly basis and bet the NBA odds for who they think will win. For the teams that did not make it, the playoffs serve as a reflection on the past season and how to right the ship so they can get back to competing again.
One team this season that didn’t make the playoffs this year sticks out like a sore thumb. The Los Angeles Lakers are led by one of the greatest basketball players of all time, LeBron James. Even with Anthony Davis by his side, injuries and bad play from the rest of the team weren’t enough to save the job of head coach Frank Vogel.
With the Lakers still feeling they can contend for a championship, they need a good coach to help bring them back into true contender status. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the NBA odds to be the next Lakers coach, along with the best bets to fill the job.
NBA Odds to Be the Next Lakers Head Coach
NBA odds to be the next Lakers coach are from Bovada Sportsbook.
- Mark Jackson (+125)
- David Fizdale (+450)
- Doc Rivers (+600)
- Nick Nurse (+600)
- Mike Brown (+800)
- Terry Stotts (+800)
Best Bets to be the Next Lakers Head Coach
Here are a couple of NBA predictions and best bets for the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lakers Head Coach Best Bet: Mark Jackson (+125)
The NBA odds favorite to be the next head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers is Mark Jackson. Although it was Steve Kerr who turned the Golden State Warriors into a dynasty, it was Mark Jackson who made them into a playoff team. After taking charge of a Warriors team that had made the playoffs just once in the last 17 years going into the 2011-2012 NBA season, Jackson made the playoffs in two of his three seasons at the helm.
Although Jackson hasn’t been a coach in the league for a while, he’s stayed around the game and clearly has the ability to turn a team around. That is exactly what the Lakers need in their next head coach, making him the early favorite in the NBA odds on Bovada Sportsbook.
Lakers Head Coach Best Bet: David Fizdale (+450)
Although it was a few years ago, many forget that David Fizdale was one of the premier NBA head coach options on the open market after he was fired from Memphis following the 2017-2018 season. After the Bucks decided to hire Mike Budenholzer when it was rumored to be between the two, Fizdale went to the Knicks. Partially due to himself and partially due to an incredible lack of talent, Fizdale only lasted two years with the Knicks.
Fizdale was hired as an assistant by the Lakers in 2021. Fizdale has experience as a head coach in the league, even if the results weren’t the prettiest. With an understanding of the Lakers roster and this Lakers team likely having more talent than any other team he’s coached, hiring Fizdale could be the partnership that springboards both back into success.
Lakers Head Coach Best Bet: Doc Rivers (+600)
Not many can sport anywhere near the same experience as an NBA head coach as Doc Rivers. As a head coach in the league since 1999, Doc Rivers has seen it all. Although Rivers has only one championship to his name, there is little doubt he’d be an immediate upgrade for the Los Angeles Lakers. For as good of a job as he has currently with Philadelphia, it would be difficult to pass up on the opportunity to join forces with LeBron.
Although he is currently employed by the 76ers, that may not last long. After finishing first in the East last season, Philadelphia lost in embarrassing fashion to Atlanta. If the 76ers and primarily James Harden flame out in the playoffs again, he’ll likely get the ax whether it’s warranted or not. While he is less likely to be on the market this offseason, he is still a good longshot bet in the NBA odds to make.
