As announced on Friday, The Los Angeles Lakers have released head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons, the team announced in a statement.
Lakers Part Ways With Head Coach Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/or3Bx2mZ5w
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 3, 2024
Lakers Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka said in the statement,
“We greatly appreciate Darvin’s efforts on behalf of the Lakers and the team and recognize the many accomplishments achieved over the past two seasons, including last year’s remarkable run to the Western Conference Finals. 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 following a full review of the season. This organization will remain unwavering in its commitment to deliver championship-caliber basketball to Lakers fans around the world.”
According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers also have fired the entire assistant coaching staff, including Phil Handy, who coached under Ham and Frank Vogel in L.A.
Coach Ham was reportedly to have two years remaining on his contract, he led the Lakers to a 90–74 record over two seasons and guided the team to the Western Conference finals last year.
As reported, the Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets in five games, further worsening the situation by last year’s playoffs, when the Nuggets sweat them in the Western Conference Finals.
Fans often criticized former Lakers coach Ham during his time for constantly changing and experimenting with starting lineups and rotations amid the team’s shortcomings.
"At what point as an organization do you stop blaming the coaches and the players and maybe say, 'we are not putting the best product to win a championship out there.'"@ThisIsUD on the firing of Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/cDKlp3sGZG
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 3, 2024
Udonis Haslem commented on the firing of Darvin Ham and seemed to hold a different theory altogether, he said,
“At what point as an organization do you stop blaming the coaches and the players and maybe say, we are not putting the best product to win a championship out there.”
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reports, the Lakers embark on an “extensive” search for a new head coach and Mike Budenholzer, Kenny Atkinson, JJ Redick, and possibly Ty Lue are on the candidates list.
