Hall of Fame coach John Kundla, first Los Angeles Lakers coach, dies at 101

John Kundla, a Hall of Fame coach who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA championships before the franchise moved to Los Angeles, died Sunday. He was 101.

Kundla, the Lakers' original head coach, was living in a Minneapolis assisted living facility in recent years.

"On behalf of the entire Lakers organization, I'd like to express our sadness at the passing of John Kundla," Lakers president and co-owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement released by the team. "John played an important role in the history of the Lakers organization. ... In addition to his numerous contributions to the Lakers and our legacy, John was a wonderful man and will be remembered fondly."

Before the Lakers won titles with Hall of Fame centers Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal, Kundla presided over championship teams anchored by George Mikan.

The Lakers won the 1949 championship in the BAA, which is the league that preceded the NBA. Kundla also led the Lakers to NBA titles in 1950 and from 1952-54.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995 and during the league's "NBA at 50" in 1996, Kundla was named one of the NBA's 10 greatest coaches.

Kundla began his tenure with the Lakers at 31 and finished with a record of 423-302 after resigning in 1959 -- the year before the team moved to Los Angeles.

After leaving the Lakers, he coached the men's basketball team at the University of Minnesota and was the first coach in school history to give scholarships to African-American players. In nine seasons with the Golden Gophers, Kundla posted a 110-105 record.