Mark Madsen, former NBA player and Stanford alum, was introduced at the Lakers practice facility on Tuesday as the head coach of the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League. Madsen spent nine years in the NBA, including two championship seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001 and 2002.
Nicknamed, “Mad Dog,” it is known that Shaq considered Madsen the only defender that could really give him a run for his money. Besides his ferocity on the court and exuberance on the bench, Madsen might be most remembered for his unique and fearless dancing at the Lakers Championship parade.
Madsen will now re-join the Lakers family, as the D-Fenders share the same facilities as the Los Angeles Lakers. Madsen’s goal is two-fold.
“Win a D-League Championship. And have as many guys called up to the NBA as possible.”
Madsen will be working very closely with Mike D’Antoni and is planning to essentially use his same system and philosophies.
“We’re going to work closely with Coach Mike D’Antoni and we’re going to utilize primarily a lot of the same sets, same system, and same philosophy.”
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It wasn’t all serious at the Lakers training facility as Madsen also judged Robert Sacre’s dance moves. He joked about how Sacre could use some work.
“I’ll have to text my contacts at ‘Dancing With the Stars’, and I’ll pass that directly on to Rob.”
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