Ex- Lakers Coah John Kundla Believes Lakers Will Turn It Around, Won't Repeat 9-20 Start Of 1957-58

LALakersFan4Life · Nov 26, 2014

John Kundla is a longtime Lakers fan, and perhaps one of the most loyal members of Lakers Nation. He certainly is one of the oldest.

So it’s understandable that the 98-year-old Minnesota resident doesn’t see many of the flaws that mark this year’s underwhelming team. The Lakers slipped to 3-11 after losing to Denver on Sunday and rank at or near the NBA’s bottom in several categories.

“They’ve had a lot of tough luck,” Kundla said in a telephone interview from his home. “They’re going to come back. They need to get a good center, that’s all. They need more than one player.”

Kundla isn’t just any fan, though. He coached the Lakers to five league championships in 11 seasons back when they bore Minneapolis across their jerseys. He still catches his favorite team on TV when it’s not on too late, 46 years after putting down his whistle for good.

“Defense is the key,” Kundla said of the current Lakers. “Controlling the backboards offensively and defensively is the key to good basketball.

“They’ve had a tough time finding a center with not getting (Kevin) Love and keeping (Dwight) Howard.”

This crop of Lakers has had a hard time, period. They haven’t come close to playing consistently good basketball and with Memphis, Toronto and Washington among their next five opponents, life is about to get harder.

But that’s nothing to Kundla, who has seen the Lakers at their worst. Way worse. Like franchise-worst.

Kundla was the team’s general manager in 1957, when the Minneapolis Lakers opened the season by losing their first seven games. They then won their next two, but proceeded to roll up another seven losses for a 2-14 start and owned only nine victories by Jan. 10.

Sound familiar?

Consider that the 1957-58 Lakers were coached by a former player, George Mikan. They had lost several key players to retirement, injuries and trades, and lacked a true quality center. Defense, Kundla said, was a season-long problem.

Mikan didn’t last the season, though, quitting midway through. Kundla was forced to return to the bench and the Lakers limped to a 19-53 record – still the franchise’s worst mark.

“We didn’t have the defensive ability,” Kundla said, adding the players had a me-first mentality. “That was a lot to take.”

Kundla said as great a player as Mikan was (a four-time All-Star and Hall of Famer), he had trouble connecting with the players. He had retired three seasons earlier, after the 1954 season.

“George couldn’t coach. He was too much of a player still,” Kundla said. “Don’t get me wrong. Mikan was one of the greatest players because of what he could do with the ball. But there was a clash of personalities on the team.”

No one is suggesting that current coach Byron Scott has conflicts with his players, but this season’s Lakers could be hard-pressed to avoid a similar fate. They started this season 0-5 and were 1-8 after nine games – marking their worst start since they moved to Los Angeles. Comparisons to their Minneapolis forefathers were inevitable.

Kundla, however, isn’t one of those predicting prolonged doom and gloom. He believes the Lakers can turn it around, largely because of Kobe Bryant, whom he considers one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, and a few new players next season.

“I’ve never seen anyone with quicker moves,” Kundla said of Bryant. “He is one of the most outstanding players in the game.”

Could history repeat itself? Following their worst season, the Minneapolis Lakers, led by a talented rookie named Elgin Baylor, reached the league finals. Kundla is a believer.

Contact the writer: jcarr@ocregister.com
Click to expand...

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/kundla-643325-lakers-players.html

revgen · Nov 26, 2014

“They’re going to come back. They need to get a good center, that’s all. They need more than one player."
Click to expand...

A good center would help. But I have feeling we'll need a whole lot more than that.

Magic Skywalker · Nov 27, 2014

I never fail to be impressed with this guy.

He's almost 100 years old (98), he was the coach, the oldest guy, yet almost all of his players passed away before him... and the guy still looks in pretty good shape and is healthy enough to be giving interviews and he's still updated in things related to the Lakers.

I mean, he was the coach of our first five championships, the very first coach of the Lakers since 1947, even before we were an NBA team. Now, in 2014, he's still a fan. Man, that's huge. He's pretty much the great-great-grandfather of the Lakers family.

That said, I also think we need more than just a good center.

lakerjones · Nov 27, 2014

Sure, but I get where he's coming from. A really good center like Marc Gasol would be an enormous improvement for us. If we could move Hill to starting PF next to a guy like Gasol, then bring Booz and Davis off the bench . . . Wow! That would probably be the biggest factor in turning this into a decent competitive squad. It doesn't hurt that Gasol is one heck of a great passer. We have no low post play at all. That would do wonders for spacing and for a more diverse offensive attack. While a great PG would help us, I think adding a guy like Gasol would be the most ideal thing. Either that or a kick butt wing like Kawhi Leonard.

therealdeal · Nov 27, 2014

Always great to have the support of legends.

But I disagree... I think this team will come very close to that record the way things are going. We're playing decently, but we aren't closing well and the reality is we're just not that talented. Not only that, but we have few options to get more talent this season.

trodgers · Nov 27, 2014

So, what do y'all think will be our record after 29?

I could see us as bad as 6-23 and as good as 12-17. Wouldn't be at all surprised if we're 9-20, especially if we don't add anyone.

alam1108 · Nov 28, 2014

I'm pretty sure we need more than a center to turn things around.

Log in or Sign up

Ex- Lakers Coah John Kundla Believes Lakers Will Turn It Around, Won't Repeat 9-20 Start Of 1957-58

LALakersFan4Life - Rookie -

revgen - Lakers 6th Man -

Magic Skywalker - Rookie -

lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

trodgers Administrator Staff Member

alam1108 - Lakers Legend -

Share This Page