​Steve Kerr (right) talks with Frank Vogel before an NBA game. The Warriors hired Vogel as associate head coach, adding another former NBA head coach to Kerr’s staff. GettyThe Golden State Warriors understood the outside speculation the moment they hired Frank Vogel.Vogel coached LeBron James and Anthony Davis to the 2020 NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, immediately prompting questions about whether his arrival on Steve Kerr’s coaching staff was tied to Golden State’s ongoing pursuit of the four-time NBA MVP.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, however, the Warriors say the move was driven by basketball reasons—not recruitment.Appearing on SportsCenter Monday, Slater said Golden State’s decision to hire Vogel as associate head coach centered on replacing experience lost from Kerr’s staff while adding one of the league’s most respected defensive minds.“Yeah, you know, he did win a championship with LeBron in 2020 in the bubble with the Lakers,” Slater said. “But I’ve been told it wasn’t about luring LeBron, hiring Frank Vogel. It was about his experience and his acumen.”Slater added that Vogel’s championship résumé with James was viewed as an added benefit rather than the primary motivation behind the hire.Steve Kerr talks with Frank Vogel before an NBA game after the Warriors hired Vogel as associate head coach.GettySteve Kerr (right) talks with Frank Vogel before an NBA game. The Warriors hired Vogel as associate head coach, adding another former NBA head coach to Kerr’s staff.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Warriors entered the offseason with significant turnover on Kerr’s bench.Veteran assistants Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse both departed after the 2025-26 season, leaving Golden State in search of another experienced voice to complement one of the NBA’s longest-tenured head coaches.According to Slater, Vogel checked every box.“The Warriors this summer lost Terry Stotts, they lost Jerry Stackhouse, and they wanted somebody next to Steve Kerr on the bench with head coaching experience,” Slater said. “Obviously, Vogel has that, and also they needed somebody to lead the defense.”That defensive expertise has long defined Vogel’s coaching career.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOver 12 NBA seasons as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Lakers and Phoenix Suns, Vogel built a reputation as one of the league’s premier defensive strategists. His Lakers ranked among the NBA’s elite defensive teams during their 2020 championship run, and his Pacers teams consistently challenged Eastern Conference contenders behind disciplined defensive play.For a Warriors team looking to maximize Stephen Curry’s remaining championship window, Vogel fills a vacancy that extends well beyond his familiarity with James.That doesn’t mean Vogel’s history with James is irrelevant.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Warriors continue