Lakers hire Kurt Rambis as senior basketball advisor

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that Kurt Rambis will be returning to the organization as a senior basketball advisor. Rambis spent nine years with the Lakers as a player and 13 years as part of the coaching staff, including a season as head coach during the 1998-99 season.

President of basketball operations Magic Johnson welcomed his former Showtime Lakers teammate back to the organization in a press release on Friday.

“As a member of the Showtime Lakers, Kurt is a champion and knows how to win,” Johnson said. “He has been an integral part of the Lakers organization winning four NBA championships as a player and an additional four as a part of the staff. His insights and wide range of experiences will be a huge benefit to our operations.”

Rambis also served as an assistant coach during the 2008-09 season, when current head coach Luke Walton was on the championship-winning Lakers roster. Walton was equally welcoming of his former coach, who he says will bring a experienced eye to the basketball operations staff.

“I’m happy to welcome Kurt back to the organization,” Walton said. “Kurt’s vast NBA experience and knowledge of the game will be a great asset to the team and I look forward to working with him again.”

Rambis last served as the associate head coach of the New York Knicks after Derek Fisher was fired. Rambis will join his wife, Linda Rambis, with the organization, as she serves as the Lakers’ manager of special projects.

The Lakers have reportedly been working to bring Rambis into the organization since at least June, so this finally happening isn’t much of a surprise, just confirmation that Rambis will have an official role with the team.

Rambis’ name might not hold the same weight in most NBA circles after his unsuccessful coaching stints in both New York and Minnesota, but he’ll have a chance to rebuild his reputation with an organization he enjoyed the most success with, in a unique role that sounds like is an attempt to build further synergy between the front office and coaching staff.

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