Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Ettore Messina has left the team to become the head coach of CSKA Russia. Messina spent one season with the Lakers, and Mitch Kupchak was doing whatever he could to bring him back.

Kupchak liked the work Messina did for the Lakers and he wanted to bring him back to Mike Brown’s coaching staff. However, Messina wanted to go back to Russia and return to a more familiar territory.

Messina is considered one of the greatest coaches in European Basketball history and has an impressive track record. Messina, an Italian, has won two Euroleague championships with Virtus Bologna and four Russian SuperLeague titles with CSKA Moscow.

He will be taking his talents to Europe, but if he continues with his excellence, Messina could be back in the NBA one day with a more prestigious position.