2024-05-04 07:23:00
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers fired coach Darvin Ham on Friday after just two seasons in charge.
The Lakers announced on social media that they were firing Ham four days after their season ended with a first-round playoff loss to Denver in five games.
Ham led Los Angeles to the Western Conference Finals less than a year ago in his first season as an NBA head coach. He replaced Frank Vogel, who was fired by the Lakers exactly 18 months after winning the franchise’s 17th championship in 2020.
Ham has had two winning seasons and two playoff appearances, but that’s not enough with the championship-focused Lakers. With little time left to capitalize on the simultaneous presence of Anthony Davis and 39-year-old LeBron James — who has not decided whether to return for his 22nd NBA season — the Lakers are once again resetting their coaching staff instead of to blame General Manager Rob Pelinka for his grid construction.
“We greatly appreciate Darvin’s efforts on behalf of the Lakers and recognize the many accomplishments achieved over the past two seasons, including last year’s remarkable run to the Western Conference Finals,” Pelinka said in a statement. “We all want to thank Darvin for his dedication and positivity. While this was a difficult decision to make, it is the best course of action after a complete review of the season. This organization will remain steadfast in its commitment to championship caliber to deliver basketball to Lakers fans around the world.”
Ham led a disappointing year for the Lakers, who went 47-35 in the regular season and won the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament. The Lakers then beat New Orleans in a playoff game to move up to the seventh seed in the highly competitive Western Conference – but that meant they had to face Denver, who swept them out of the playoffs last season.
Los Angeles led the defending champion Nuggets for long stretches of their first-round series, but Nikola Jokic and his teammates finally rolled into the second round with a string of comeback wins.
“Sitting in this seat has been a hell of two years,” Ham said after the game. “A lot of good things that have been done, but ultimately you want to win that ultimate prize.”
The Lakers’ failure was severe because James and Davis were largely healthy all year, with both superstars playing more games than they have managed in an NBA season since 2017-18 — 76 for Davis and 71 for James, the leading scorer in NBA history. . D’Angelo Russell also had a strong regular season, setting the franchise record for three-pointers.
That health and success has only translated into a four-win improvement in the standings from last season, and Ham has drawn much of the blame from fans and observers for his game management, slow tactical adjustments and an unwillingness to change his player rotations and starting lineup. alter. even when things don’t work.
The Lakers fell into a hole they couldn’t escape when they went 3-10 in the holiday period immediately following the In-Season Tournament finale. Ham was widely criticized for his lineups and rotations during that poor stretch — among other decisions, he curiously benched Russell and Austin Reaves (Cedar Ridge High School) while giving extended playing time to Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish.
That slump ultimately prevented the Lakers from earning a top-6 seed in the West, even though they finished the regular season with an impressive 28-14 surge.
The players publicly backed Ham, but signs of frustration were evident. After the Lakers blew a 20-point lead and lost to Denver in Game 2 last month, Davis said the Lakers “have stretches where we don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor,” a comment that widely interpreted as a shot at Ham’s coaching credentials.
The Lakers went just 43-39 in their first season under Ham in 2022-23, but they benefited from more favorable playoff appearances. After beating Minnesota in a playoff game, they won playoff series against Memphis and Golden State to reach the conference finals, where they were swept by Denver.
James, Davis and the Lakers have failed to make the playoffs in three of their four seasons since winning the 2020 championship in the Florida bubble.
Ham has two years left on his contract with the Lakers, who will be hiring their fourth head coach since James’ arrival in 2018. The new coach will be the Lakers’ eighth in 14 seasons since the departure of Hall of Famer Phil Jackson in 2011.
Ham had an eight-year playing career in the NBA as an athletic forward, winning a championship with Detroit in 2004. Landing his first NBA assistant coaching job with the Lakers in 2011, he served as Mike Budenholzer’s assistant in Atlanta and Milwaukee for nine seasons — winning a second championship ring with the Bucks in 2021 — before serving as their head coach. return to the Lakers.
James has a $51.4 million player option for next season, and his decision depends on every offseason move for the Lakers, who internally expect him to return.
Pelinka must then determine whether he can make the long-awaited move for a third superstar through trades, or whether he believes the claims by Rui Hachimura and other role players that the Lakers can become a contender with more continuity.
Russell has an $18.7 million player option after the sharpshooter excelled in the regular season and flopped in the playoffs, infamously going scoreless in the Lakers’ Game 3 loss to Denver. After Los Angeles was knocked out of the playoffs on Monday, the point guard said he had “a little bit of leverage. I’ll try to take advantage of that.”
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, left, calls for a call with referee Kevin Scott, front right, in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, left, and head coach Darvin Ham talk before an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham reacts during the second half in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) 1715011786
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