Mitch Kupchak - Wikipedia Mitch Kupchak Mitch Kupchak Kupchak visits the White House with the Lakers in 2010. ( 1954 - 05 - 24 ) May 24, 1954 ( age 63 ) Hicksville, New York Nationality American Listed height 6 ft 9 in ( 2.06 m ) Listed weight 230 lb ( 104 kg ) Career information High school Brentwood ( Brentwood, New York ) College North Carolina ( 1972 -- 1976 ) NBA draft 1976 / Round : 1 / Pick : 13th overall Selected by the Washington Bullets Playing career 1976 -- 1986 Position Power forward, center Number 25, 41 Career history 1976 -- 1981 Washington Bullets 1981 -- 1986 Los Angeles Lakers Career highlights and awards 3 × NBA champion ( 1978, 1982, 1985 ) NBA All - Rookie First Team ( 1977 ) Consensus second - team All - American ( 1976 ) ACC Player of the Year ( 1976 ) 2 × First - team All - ACC ( 1975, 1976 ) Career statistics Points 5,202 ( 10.2 ppg ) Rebounds 2,730 ( 5.4 rpg ) Assists 377 ( 0.7 apg ) Stats at Basketball-Reference.com Medals Men 's basketball Representing United States Olympic Games 1976 Montreal Team Mitchell Kupchak ( born May 24, 1954 ) is an American former basketball player and the former general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. Contents 1 High school and college career 2 NBA career 3 Transition to NBA management 4 As general manager 5 Personal life 6 References 7 External links High School and college career Kupchak played for Brentwood High School in New York. He was an All - American on the North Carolina Tar Heels men 's basketball team, and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in his senior season. Kupchak played on the gold medal - winning team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. NBA career Kupchak was drafted by the Washington Bullets in 1976 and was named to the NBA All - Rookie Team. He had four productive seasons with Washington and was part of the team that won the NBA championship in 1978. He signed a long term contract with the Lakers in 1981 at the behest of Earvin `` Magic '' Johnson, who told owner Jerry Buss, `` If we could get Mitch Kupchak, I know we could win '', after the team 's playoff upset. Unfortunately, 26 games into the season, Kupchak injured his knee and did not play again until the 1983 -- 84 season. However, Kupchak played a key role in the Showtime Lakers ' 1985 championship team against the Boston Celtics, who had intimidated them in the prior year 's Finals. Kupchak retired after the 1985 -- 86 season, having played 510 regular season and 68 playoff games, with regular season averages of 10.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game ( 7.7 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs ). During his final game, Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, a brawl broke out between the Lakers and the Houston Rockets, which saw Kupchak and Hakeem Olajuwon ejected. Transition to NBA Management Kupchak showed remarkable forethought in planning for his `` life after '' being an NBA player -- pursuing a focused program to learn the trade of running NBA team operations. While still under his initial player contract, he worked with the front office, developing strong working relationships with Laker management, beginning to `` apprentice '' with Jerry West, and starting studies that led to his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 1987. As general manager Kupchak retired from playing in 1986, and became the Lakers ' assistant general manager ( under GM and Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West ). He later succeeded West as General Manager, but was not considered to have all of the traditional powers of an NBA GM until 2000 ( when West resigned as Vice President of Basketball Operations, for the challenge of trying to replicate the Lakers ' level of success as GM of the recently relocated, last - place Memphis Grizzlies ). On July 16, 2003, after the Lakers failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 3 years, Kupchak 's first major deal was the off - season acquisitions of superstars Karl Malone and Gary Payton ( who had both failed to win an NBA championship despite long, Hall of Fame - caliber careers ). After a number of controversial trade transactions over the years, including the trade of Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant -- as well as the decision to not trade young center Andrew Bynum for point guard Jason Kidd -- Kupchak faced severe criticism from Lakers franchise star Kobe Bryant, who urged his firing. However, Kupchak reportedly still had the support of the team 's owner. In 2007, Kupchak traded Brian Cook and Maurice Evans for Trevor Ariza, and the Lakers started the season off with the best record in the west. After an injury to Andrew Bynum cast their recent success in doubt, his February 2008 deal to obtain Spanish Power Forward Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, and draft picks ( one of which was the right to Marc Gasol ) earned him praise ( and scorn ) from league insiders and fans alike. Bryant later conceded, `` He goes from a ( n ) F to an A-plus. '', while Gregg Popovich, coach of Western Conference rival San Antonio Spurs, went so far as to argue that `` there should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense ''. That year, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals for the 5th time in 9 years, but would eventually lose to the Boston Celtics. The following year, they returned and won in a 4 - 1 rout over the Orlando Magic. In 2009, Kupchak signed 2004 Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest, famous for his role in the Pacers - Pistons Brawl, as a free agent. The Lakers made it to their seventh NBA Finals in 11 years, winning in a championship re-match against the Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals. 2011 saw the retirement of longtime coach Phil Jackson, replacing him with Mike Brown, as well as an attempted three - team trade of Odom and Gasol to the Houston Rockets, in exchange for the New Orleans Hornets ' All - Star point guard, Chris Paul Because the Hornets ( a financial failure for its previous owners ) was still owned by the NBA, Commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade for unspecified `` basketball reasons '' -- leaving the Lakers with a publicly disgruntled Odom, and shocked Gasol ( both of whom intended to end their careers as Lakers, and had not known that they were about to be traded ). On July 4, 2012, after two consecutive playoff exits in the semi-final round, Kupchak used a traded player exception ( gained by trading Odom to the Dallas Mavericks ) on two - time, former NBA Most Valuable Player, Steve Nash. The deal to get Nash in a Laker uniform was finalized for a package of future draft picks and cash considerations. That same summer, Kupchak dealt Andrew Bynum, who had just been voted to his first All - Star team, in a four - way trade for his Eastern Conference counterpart, three - time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard. The move was announced August 10, 2012. But the flurry of personnel changes did not stop there : Kupchak had also convinced former All - Star and Sixth Man of the Year winner Antawn Jamison to sign for a veteran - minimum contract. He later, along with owner Jerry Buss and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jim Buss ( Jerry 's son ), also fired defense - minded head coach Mike Brown and replaced him with Nash 's former head coach, offense - minded Mike D'Antoni. During the 2013 -- 14 season, Kupchak and the Lakers gave Kobe Bryant a 2 - year, $48.5 million extension despite him being out due to an Achilles injury. The deal was reportedly endorsed by team president Jeanie Buss. Mike D'Antoni resigned after the season, leaving Kupchak and Jim Buss the task of hiring a 3rd coach in 4 years. They decided on former Lakers point guard Byron Scott. The Lakers announced in April 2014 that Kupchak 's own contract had been extended for multiple years. It was scheduled to expire after the 2014 season. Terms of the contract were not released. On February 21, 2017, Kupchak was fired as general manager of the Lakers. Personal life In 2002, Kupchak was inducted into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame. He is married to Claire, with whom he had two children. His daughter, Alina Claire Kupchak, died on January 5, 2015, after a lengthy illness. His son Maxwell is a forward on the UC Santa Barbara basketball team. References Jump up ^ Marcus, Steven ( February 3, 2013 ). `` LI native Mitch Kupchak having rough season as Lakers ' GM ''. Newsday. Retrieved January 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Springer, Steve ( April 28, 2008 ). `` This is how he rolls ''. Los Angeles Times. Jump up ^ Fowler, Scott ( 2005 ). North Carolina Tar Heels : Where Have You Gone ?. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 99. ISBN 9781582619422. Jump up ^ Jackson, Tim W. ( 2013 ). Gone Pro : North Carolina. Clerisy Press. p. 45. ISBN 9781578605453. ^ Jump up to : Springer, Steve ( April 28, 2008 ). `` Lakers ' Kupchak can deal with it ''. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 04 - 30. Jump up ^ Gary Payton & Karl Malone profiles, nba.com ; accessed January 6, 2014. Jump up ^ `` SI.com -- Gasol trade sparks war of words ''. CNN. February 8, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Best Point Guards Available in 2011 -- 12 Season : Fantasy Basketball Report ''. Jump up ^ Beck, Howard ( December 8, 2011 ). `` N.B.A. Rejects Trade Sending Paul to Lakers ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ Ben Golliver ( 2012 - 07 - 04 ). `` Suns agree to a sign - and - trade sending Steve Nash to Lakers for future picks ''. cbssports.com. Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Sources Dwight Howard to Lakers ''. espn.go.com. 2012 - 08 - 10. Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 11. Jump up ^ Shelburne, Ramona ( November 10, 2012 ). `` Lakers fire Mike Brown ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved January 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Shelburne, Ramona ; Stein, Marc ( November 12, 2012 ). `` Lakers hire Mike D'Antoni ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved January 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Pincus, Eric ( April 9, 2014 ). `` Lakers give Mitch Kupchak a multiyear contract extension ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Schiliken, Chuck ( February 21, 2017 ). `` Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, exec Jim Buss relieved of duties as Magic Johnson takes over basketball operations ''. LA Times. Retrieved February 21, 2017. Jump up ^ Tarapacki, Tom ( August 31, 2002 ). `` Stemkowski, Podres, Kupchak To Enter Hall Of Fame ''. Polish - American Journal. Retrieved January 6, 2015 -- via Highbeam Research. Jump up ^ National Polish - American Sports HOF profile Archived December 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Holmes, Baxter ( January 5, 2015 ). `` Alina Kupchak, 15, dies after illness ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved January 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Joseph, Adi ( January 5, 2015 ). `` Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak 's daughter, Alina, dies at 15 ''. USA Today. Retrieved January 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Pincus, Eric ( January 5, 2015 ). `` Alina Kupchak, 15, daughter of Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, dies ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 6, 2015. Jump up ^ `` UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 2016 - 17 Team Player Roster - College Basketball - ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017. External links National Basketball Association portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitch Kupchak. Career statistics and player information from Basketball-Reference.com Links to related articles United States men 's basketball squad -- 1976 Summer Olympics -- Gold medal 4 Ford 5 Sheppard 6 Dantley 7 Davis 8 Buckner 9 Grunfeld 10 Carr 11 May 12 Armstrong 13 LaGarde 14 Hubbard 15 Kupchak Coach : Smith 1976 NCAA Men 's Basketball Consensus All - Americans First Team Kent Benson Adrian Dantley John Lucas Scott May Richard Washington Second Team Phil Ford Bernard King Mitch Kupchak Phil Sellers Earl Tatum Atlantic Coast Conference Men 's Basketball Player of the Year 1954 : Hemric 1955 : Hemric 1956 : Shavlik 1957 : Rosenbluth 1958 : Brennan 1959 : Pucillo 1960 : Shaffer 1961 : Chappell 1962 : Chappell 1963 : Heyman 1964 : Mullins 1965 : Cunningham 1966 : Vacendak 1967 : Miller 1968 : Miller 1969 : Roche 1970 : Roche 1971 : Davis 1972 : Parkhill 1973 : Thompson 1974 : Thompson 1975 : Thompson 1976 : Kupchak 1977 : Griffin 1978 : Ford 1979 : Gminski 1980 : King 1981 : Sampson 1982 : Sampson 1983 : Sampson 1984 : Jordan 1985 : Bias 1986 : Bias 1987 : Grant 1988 : Ferry 1989 : Ferry 1990 : Scott 1991 : Monroe 1992 : Laettner 1993 : Rogers 1994 : Hill 1995 : J. Smith 1996 : Duncan 1997 : Duncan 1998 : Jamison 1999 : Brand 2000 : Carrawell 2001 : Battier & Forte 2002 : Dixon 2003 : Howard 2004 : Hodge 2005 : Redick 2006 : Redick 2007 : Dudley 2008 : Hansbrough 2009 : Lawson 2010 : Vásquez 2011 : N. Smith 2012 : Zeller 2013 : Green & Larkin 2014 : Warren 2015 : Okafor 2016 : Brogdon 2017 : Jackson 1976 NBA Draft First round John Lucas Scott May Richard Washington Leon Douglas Wally Walker Adrian Dantley Quinn Buckner Robert Parish Armond Hill Ron Lee Bob Wilkerson Terry Furlow Mitch Kupchak Larry Wright Chuckie Williams Norm Cook Sonny Parker Second round Willie Smith Bayard Forrest Major Jones Earl Tatum Johnny Davis Alex English Scott Lloyd Lonnie Shelton Jacky Dorsey Phil Hicks Bob Carrington Dennis Johnson Al Fleming Joe Pace Mo Howard Butch Feher Marshall Rogers Washington Bullets 1977 -- 78 NBA champions 10 Dandridge 11 Hayes 14 Henderson 15 Johnson 20 Walker 25 Kupchak 32 Wright 35 Grevey 41 Unseld ( Finals MVP ) 42 Ballard 44 Pace 45 Chenier Head coach Motta Assistant coach Bickerstaff Regular season Playoffs Los Angeles Lakers 1981 -- 82 NBA champions 5 Jordan 8 Brewer 10 Nixon 11 McAdoo 21 Cooper 31 Rambis 32 M. Johnson ( Finals MVP ) 33 Abdul - Jabbar 34 C. Johnson 40 McGee 52 Wilkes 54 Landsberger Head coach Riley Assistant coaches Bertka Thibault Regular season Playoffs Los Angeles Lakers 1984 -- 85 NBA champions 4 Scott 11 McAdoo 12 Lester 21 Cooper 25 Kupchak 31 Rambis 32 Johnson 33 Abdul - Jabbar ( Finals MVP ) 35 Spriggs 40 McGee 42 Worthy 43 Nevitt Head coach Riley Assistant coaches Bertka Wohl Regular season Playoffs Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mitch_Kupchak&oldid=794017359 '' Categories : 1954 births Living people All - American college men 's basketball players American people of Polish descent Basketball players at the 1976 Summer Olympics Basketball players from New York ( state ) Brentwood High School ( Brentwood, New York ) alumni Los Angeles Lakers executives Los Angeles Lakers players Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics National Basketball Association general managers North Carolina Tar Heels men 's basketball players Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball People from Hicksville, New York UCLA Anderson School of Management alumni Washington Bullets draft picks Washington Bullets players Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Use American English from February 2017 All Wikipedia articles written in American English Use mdy dates from February 2017 Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano Polski Português Русский Svenska 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 5 August 2017, at 08 : 41. 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Question: who is the general manager of the los angeles lakers
Answer: Mitchell Kupchak