The Los Angeles Lakers sacked coach Darvin Ham on Friday after just two seasons at the helm. The Lakers announced on social media four days after their season ended with a first-round playoff defeat to Denver in five games.
Ham guided the team to the Western Conference finals less than a year ago in his debut season as an NBA head coach. He took over from Frank Vogel, who was dismissed by the Lakers exactly 18 months after leading the franchise to its 17th championship in 2020.
During his tenure, Ham achieved two winning seasons and secured two playoff berths. However, given the Lakers’ focus on championships, this wasn’t deemed sufficient.
With Anthony Davis and LeBron James still on the roster, but time running out to maximize their partnership, the Lakers have opted to overhaul their coaching staff instead of placing blame on general manager Rob Pelinka for the team’s composition.
“We appreciate Darvin’s efforts for the Lakers and acknowledge the achievements made over the past two seasons, including last year’s impressive journey to the Western Conference finals,” Pelinka stated. “We thank Darvin for his dedication and positivity.
Although it was a tough decision, we believe it’s the right step after a thorough assessment of the season. The Lakers remain committed to delivering championship-level basketball to fans worldwide.”
Ham oversaw a disappointing season for the Lakers, who posted a 47-35 record in the regular season and emerged victorious in the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.
Despite winning against New Orleans in a play-in game to secure the seventh seed in the highly competitive Western Conference, the Lakers faced Denver in the playoffs, a team that had swept them out of contention the previous season.
While Los Angeles held leads against the defending champion Nuggets for extended periods during their first-round series, Nikola Jokic and his squad advanced to the second round with a series of comeback victories.
Reflecting on the outcome, Ham remarked, “It’s been a challenging two years. We achieved many positives, but the goal is to win the championship.”
The Lakers’ underperformance was particularly painful given the relative health of James and Davis throughout the season, with both stars appearing in more games than they had in recent years. Additionally, D’Angelo Russell had an impressive regular season, setting a franchise record for 3-pointers.
Despite these factors, the team only managed a four-win improvement from the previous season. Ham faced criticism from fans and analysts for his handling of games, slow tactical adjustments, and reluctance to alter player rotations and starting lineups, even in the face of adversity.
The Lakers faced a tough stretch, going 3-10 during the holiday period right after the In-Season Tournament finale.
Ham received criticism for his lineup choices and rotations during this tough time. Some questioned why Russell and Reaves were benched while Prince and Reddish got significant playing time.
This slump prevented the Lakers from securing a top-6 seed in the West, despite finishing the regular season strong with a 28-14 run.
While players publicly supported Ham, signs of frustration were evident. After blowing a 20-point lead and losing to Denver in Game 2 last month, Davis expressed concerns about the team’s performance on both ends of the floor, which many saw as a critique of Ham’s coaching decisions.
In Ham’s first season in 2022-23, the Lakers finished with a 43-39 record but managed to advance in the playoffs by winning series against Memphis and Golden State. However, they were swept by Denver in the conference finals.
Despite their efforts, James, Davis, and the Lakers have struggled to progress in the playoffs since winning the championship in 2020.
Ham had two years remaining on his contract with the Lakers, who will soon be searching for their fourth head coach since James joined the team in 2018. This new coach will mark the Lakers’ eighth in 14 seasons, following Phil Jackson’s departure in 2011.
Before coaching, Ham had an eight-year career as a player in the NBA, winning a championship with Detroit in 2004. He began his coaching journey as an assistant with the Lakers in 2011, later working with Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta and Milwaukee for nine seasons, winning another championship with the Bucks in 2021, before returning to the Lakers as head coach.
James has a $51.4 million player option for next season, and his decision greatly influences the Lakers’ offseason plans. It’s widely believed within the organization that he will choose to return.
Pelinka faces the challenge of deciding whether to pursue a third superstar through trades or to prioritize continuity, as suggested by Hachimura and other role players.
Russell, who had a strong regular season but struggled in the playoffs, has an $18.7 million player option. Despite his disappointing postseason performance, he sees this as an opportunity to negotiate better terms.
