How Steve Kerr convinced former NBA coach Frank Vogel to join Warriors staff

How Steve Kerr convinced former NBA coach Frank Vogel to join Warriors staff originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Many have speculated that former NBA coach Frank Vogel only was being considered as a Warriors assistant to strengthen the team’s pursuit of LeBron James. That is not the case.

“LeBron and I still have a great relationship, so that may have been something that could’ve been enticing to him,” Vogel told the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday at Chase Center. “But whether we had LeBron or not – and we, from what I understand, felt like it was still a long shot to get him. So that was not the purpose in hiring me.”

During their three years together, Vogel and James won the COVID-19-shortened 2020 championship inside the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida.

Frank Vogel really left LeBron hanging 😅 pic.twitter.com/sKlsHIZJGx

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 13, 2019

After one year as an assistant on the now-fired Jason Kidd’s Dallas Mavericks coaching staff, Vogel takes on a new challenge with the Warriors.

“Most scenarios or situations in the NBA, it would’ve been a ‘no’ for me to jump right back into another job,” Vogel said.

Head coach Steve Kerr was persistent in recruiting Vogel. He tried to get Vogel to join the staff back in 2024, but it wasn’t the right time for the former Suns head coach. Now two years later, it was too good of an opportunity for Vogel to pass up.

“Any team with Steph [Curry] and Draymond [Green] can win,” Vogel said. “They’ve just had injuries the last couple of years. That’s the only reason. So, that starting point alone gives you confidence that you can win at a high level.

The Warriors have suffered some unfortunate injuries over the last two seasons, with star forward Jimmy Butler sustaining a torn ACL midway through the 2025-26 campaign, and Curry, two years ago, with a hamstring strain during the Western Conference semifinals. Golden State feels it can compete with anybody when fully healthy.

“It wasn’t a fair fight for them, the last couple of years,” Vogel added, reflecting on Golden State’s run of injuries. “So hopefully we have some health, and some buy-in to a new defensive system that’ll help us be great.” If you can keep your head above water to start the season, those guys come back – now you become one of the most dangerous teams in the league. And you can have a very high ceiling.”

The defensive system Vogel refers to is going to take some adjustment on the players’ part. One big man, in particular, that Vogel feels can flourish is center Kristaps Porziņģis.

“I’m really excited about putting him in my defensive system,” Vogel stated. “Because there are a lot of details I believe in with my defensive system and how I use shot-blocking bigs that really get a lot out of ’em on that side, and I really look forward to putting KP in those spots.”

Green still will be the anchor on defense, as he has been for years. The role players all will have to step up, including rookie first-round draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg.

“Most rookies get overpowered early in their career,” Vogel said. “Ain’t nobody gonna punk this kid.”

At 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, Lendeborg will be a force to be reckoned with. Vogel wouldn’t have jumped back into coaching right away if he didn’t see the potential this group has.

If health stays on the Warriors’ side this season, Vogel could play a role in helping Curry and Green secure their fifth ring.

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