Darvin Ham’s job safety with the Los Angeles Lakers was known as into query after the group was knocked out of the NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets in simply 5 video games. Hypothesis started swirling about Ham’s future with the Lakers, and on Friday, the group formally introduced that they’d parted methods with him after two seasons. As LeBron James contemplates his future with the Lakers, the group can be on the lookout for a brand new head coach to steer the group into the following chapter.
Tyronn Lue and J.J. Redick are among the many prime contenders for the Lakers’ head teaching job, in line with a report from ESPN. Each Lue and Redick have connections to LeBron James, with Lue teaching James to an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Redick serving as James’ podcast co-host. The brand new head coach could have the duty of maximizing the ultimate chapter of Ham’s profession, ought to he resolve to stay with the Lakers.
Regardless of having two years remaining on his contract, the Lakers determined to half methods with Ham after a disappointing season. Throughout his tenure in Los Angeles, Ham had an everyday season document of 90-74 and an 11-12 document within the postseason. Whereas Ham did information the Lakers to a title within the NBA’s first-ever In-Season event in December, the group’s early exit from the playoffs finally led to his departure.
Ham took over as head coach of the Lakers in 2022, changing Frank Vogel. Vogel had led the group to a disappointing 33-win season in 2021-22, failing to qualify for the postseason. Nonetheless, Vogel additionally led the Lakers to an NBA championship contained in the bubble in 2020. In his first season as head coach, Ham confronted challenges, however the group made strikes main as much as the commerce deadline that helped them attain the Western Convention Finals.
Because the Lakers put together for a brand new period beneath a brand new head coach, they must navigate LeBron James’ unsure future with the group. James has not dedicated to returning to the Lakers for the 2024-25 season, leaving many questions on the group’s route shifting ahead. The Lakers’ subsequent head coach might want to lead the group by this transition interval and work to maximise the expertise on the roster to compete for an additional championship.