Frank Vogel wants to apply the same recipe to Phoenix as to the Lakers

During his career with varying fortunes, between the Pacers, the Magic and then the Lakers, Frank Vogel can still highlight his title of NBA 2020 champion on his business card. It is also for this accomplishment achieved in unprecedented conditions that the Suns called on him to succeed Monty Williams after a year of inactivity following the fiasco of the 2021/22 season with the Lakers.

During his first appearance in front of the press yesterday, as the new head coach of Phoenix, he therefore highlighted his main feat, when he managed to get the best out of a group led by two major players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Because it is precisely the main mission that will be his, to set up a collective around two other superstars: Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

“The first thing I can apply is direct trust. Because I did, and I was part of it. If the talent is there, you can galvanize a group and take the league by storm.”, he explainedhowever not minimizing the importance of the other players of the device brought to surround Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Among them, there should be Deandre Ayton, sometimes dominant pivot but whose impact has not been sufficient in the playoffs, and whose margin of progress continues to question. This is perhaps Frank Vogel’s biggest project, while relations between the Bahamian and Monty Williams were complicated.

” He can be very deterrent defensively and there are still areas where he can develop offensively. I fully intend to be close to him and revive him to make him an All-Star level player”he added.

An already seasoned group to accompany to the summit

The regular season is for him the time when he will have to build in order to be ready for the intensity of the playoffs. Like what Giannis Antetokounmpo often repeats, Frank Vogel believes in the importance of creating these “good habits” from October to April to prepare the next step as well as possible.

“The first habit we have to adopt throughout the year is to play harder, harder and with more desire than our opponents, every night. Because if we develop this habit over 82 matches, when the playoff period arrives, when each team tries to move upmarket, we will already be there as far as we are concerned.

As in Los Angeles, Frank Vogel arrives in Phoenix at the head of an already established workforce, which is not far from the top.

To hear his speech, there should in any case be no revolution in the workforce, and we can expect that Deandre Ayton, but also Chris Paul, will be kept around Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

“We are very close (to the title). A lot of things must also work in our favor. It takes a lot of luck and a few nudges along the way. But I feel that the foundation is already in place. We just need to make a few changes at the margins,” he added.