From NBA Stardom to a Forgotten Legacy: Unveiling the Untold Journey of Paul Westhead Post-Lakers
Paul Westhead's journey after parting ways with the Lakers led him to become the head coach of the Chicago Bulls He continued his successful coaching career in both the NBA and college teams until 2014
Summary
"Winning Time" reveals how Paul Westhead's refusal to accept feedback from players and coaches led to his downfall as the Lakers' head coach.
Following his termination from the Lakers, Westhead's stint as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls proved to be brief and unsuccessful, as he was ultimately replaced just one season prior to Michael Jordan's inaugural appearance.
In spite of his dismissal from the Lakers, Westhead managed to attain considerable coaching achievements in both college and professional contexts. Notably, he played a pivotal role in transforming Loyola Marymount University into a formidable contender within the NCAA National Tournament.
HBO's "Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty" delves into Paul Westhead's journey as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, from their triumph to their downfall. Despite leading the team to an unexpected NBA Title in 1980, Westhead was ultimately dismissed from his position at the start of the 1981-82 season due to a lukewarm 7-4 record. The show reveals the behind-the-scenes dynamics in the locker room that ultimately led to Westhead's firing, with Magic Johnson's frustrations towards the coach being highlighted as the main reason, as depicted in the series. The owner, Jerry Buss, made the decision to let Westhead go.
In season 2, episode 5 of "Winning Time," the full picture of Westhead's downfall as coach is painted. His refusal to accept feedback from players and coaching staff played a significant role in his dismissal. In reality, Westhead was fired after a 5-game winning streak, and Magic's public criticisms resulted in him requesting to be traded. However, in 1981, Buss and other Lakers players stated that the negative sentiments towards Westhead extended beyond Magic alone, and his departure had already been under consideration before Magic's concerns became public. This was reported by the Washington Post.
Paul Westhead Became The Chicago Bulls' Head Coach After Leaving The Lakers
After being released by the Lakers, Westhead joined the Chicago Bulls as a coach for the 1982-83 NBA season. Unfortunately, he had to witness Riley, his former team's coach, lead them to an NBA Title in 1982. As the leader of the Bulls, Westhead struggled to make progress, resulting in a disappointing record of 28-54 for his first and only season. This was the fifth-worst record in the NBA that year and the second-worst in the Bulls' franchise history.
Similar to his experience in Los Angeles, Westhead faced issues with the playing style of the Bulls. As a result, he was let go in 1983, just one season before Michael Jordan made his NBA debut. Surprisingly, despite being replaced by Kevin Loughrey, the former head coach of the Atlanta Hawks who had led them to the playoffs for two consecutive seasons with Dominique Wilkins, Westhead was still compensated by the Bulls for the 1983-84 season.
Paul Westhead Continued Coaching NBA & College Teams Until 2014
After his brief time coaching the Bulls, Westhead returned to the college level at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. From 1985 to 1990, he served as the head coach and played a significant role in establishing the small college as a competitive team in the NCAA National Tournament. During the 1990 season, Westhead's LMU team achieved an impressive average of 122.4 points per game, which still stands as an NCAA record today.
Following his successful college coaching career, Westhead joined the Denver Nuggets and coached there from 1989 to 1991. He later went on to coach various collegiate, NBA, and ABA teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, and Oklahoma City Thunder. After coaching the Oregon University women's team for five years, he retired in 2014. Despite his firing from the Los Angeles Lakers, as portrayed in Winning Time season 2, episode 5, Westhead showed resilience and went on to find success as the head coach of multiple prestigious organizations after the 1981-82 NBA season.
Source: Washington Post
