Lakers fire Vogel, and Kings let Gentry go

Frank Vogel masterminded the 17th championship in the Los Angeles Lakers’ remarkable history in his first season on their bench.

Eighteen months after that triumph, he became part of the Lakers’ past.

The Lakers fired Vogel on Monday, choosing their titlewinning coach to take the fall for one of the most disappointing seasons in NBA history.

Los Angeles finished 33-49 and missed the 10-team Western Conference playoffs. It was a serious underachievement for LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and an experienced cast expected to contend for another title.

Vogel was under contract through next season, but almost nothing has gone right over the past two seasons for the rosters assembled by general manager Rob Pelinka and coached by Vogel, who went 127-98 in his three seasons running the club.

Pelinka didn’t elaborate on why he and owner Jeanie Buss thought Vogel needed to go.

“Today is not going to be a day of finger-pointing and unwinding all the specific reasons,” Pelinka said.

Kings dismiss Gentry: Sacramento fired interim head coach Alvin Gentry, a day after the franchise missed the playoffs for a 16th straight season.

Gentry, 67, was promoted from associate head coach to interim head coach when the Kings fired Luke Walton in November following a 6-11 start. Sacramento won 116-109 at NBA-leading Phoenix on Sunday to finish at 30-52.

He most recently had served as head coach for the Pelicans (2015-20). He was also associate head coach for the Warriors during 2014-15, the first season of their run of five NBA Finals appearances, and Gentry has also made head-coaching stops with Miami, Detroit, the Clippers and Phoenix. He has a career record of 534-636.

Timberwolves’ extension: Minnesota head coach Chris Finch signed a multiyear extension after guiding the team to seventh place in the Western Conference and a play-in berth.