Lakers coach Darvin Ham has not yet shown any doubts about his job security, but it doesn’t mean that his tenure has been without issues. In fact, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, even LeBron James was losing patience with coach Ham during the peak of their struggles this season.
“There was some buzz in NBA circles that James wasn’t happy with head coach Darvin Ham when the team struggled earlier in the season. If the Lakers don’t win a playoff series this year, will James try to make the team pick between him and the coach,” wrote Pincus.
Ham was brought in back in 2022 to help mend relations between Russell Westbrook and the rest of the team. When Russ was traded, Ham led the charge for a Lakers team that made a run to the Western Conference Finals that same season and proved to everyone that the Lakers could never be counted out. Ham was also at the helm when they won the play-in tournament back in December, marking their place in the history books once more.
But now, the Lakers are all business as they head to the Western Conference play-in once again. Due to lethargic and inconsistent play, the Lakers are down to 9th in the West, and they face a fierce battle ahead for their post-season lives. And while this late-season push may have been enough to stave off the firing of Ham, his coaching future may depend on what happens over these next few months and how the Lakers hold up against the best in the West.
Is Darvin Ham On The Hot Seat?
At 39 years old, the pressure is on for LeBron James to win a title before he retires and the Lakers are determined to prove that they are the best team suited for that mission. With Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell, they have the backbone of a contender and LeBron can keep their contender status alive if he returns for another season.
But with so much to lose, the Lakers cannot waste time on the wrong coach, and James will likely have to decide whether to defend or reject Darvin Ham.
While LeBron has not yet said anything openly negative about Darvin, he has ignored many of his plays before, and there are other hints that the man may be on the verge of being replaced. An early playoff exit this April may be all LeBron needs to give the green light on a change of coach. The question now is, who is the better choice?
With no obvious candidates right now, we can only guess who might be on their radar. The latest reports suggest that multiple players wanted the Lakers to replace Ham with assistant Phil Handy, who is widely believed to be next up for a promotion.
But whether it’s Handy, Kenny Atkinson, or some other candidate, the Lakers cannot afford to get this one wrong, and they must find the right person to maximize what’s left of this star-studded core. By all accounts, Darvin’s future with the team hinges on this summer and how far the Lakers can get in a talented and deep Western bracket.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
