NBA
LA Lakers fire head coach Darvin Ham: who could replace him?
A number of potential replacements are in contention after the Los Angeles Lakers announced Ham’s dismissal following two seasons in charge.
Several names are in the frame for the Los Angeles Lakers job, after the Californian franchise fired head coach Darvin Ham in the wake of the team’s NBA Playoffs defeat to the Denver Nuggets.
Having had to negotiate the Play-In tournament to secure a postseason spot, the Lakers were beaten 4-1 in the first round, Monday’s 108-106 loss in Denver confirming their series defeat. It is the 10th time in the last 12 seasons that the historic franchise, which has won a joint-record 17 NBA championships, has been eliminated before the Western Conference semi-finals.
Ham fails to follow up first-season feats
In his first appointment as an NBA head coach, Ham replaced Frank Vogel as Lakers boss ahead of the 2022/23 season, before leading Los Angeles to that year’s conference finals. While that postseason run led franchise chiefs to consider the 50-year-old’s first term in charge a success, his second campaign at the helm has been less positive.
What went wrong at Lakers this season?
While Ham’s efforts have not been helped by injuries to players such as Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent and Christian Wood, it became clear that the former Milwaukee Bucks assistant’s relationship with his players had deteriorated in 2023/24.
Ham was publicly criticised by Anthony Davis before the Lakers’ elimination, while superstar LeBron James has let his displeasure with both coaches and executives be known throughout the season. In Game 4 against the Nuggets, James could be seen berating Ham after the head coach failed to challenge a questionable refereeing decision.
Ham dismissal “the best course of action” - Lakers chief
“We greatly appreciate Darvin’s efforts on behalf of the Lakers and recognise the many accomplishments achieved over the past two seasons including last year’s remarkable run to the Western Conference Finals,” the franchise’s vice-president of basketball operations and general manager, Rob Pelinka, said.
“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 organisation will remain unwavering in its commitment to deliver championship-caliber basketball to Lakers fans around the world.”
Who could replace Ham as Lakers head coach?
According to The Athletic reporters Shams Charania and Joan Buha, the Lakers’ list of potential replacements includes Mike Budenholzer, Kenny Atkinson, JJ Redick and, if he becomes available this summer, current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue.
Budenholzer, who is a two-time Coach of the Year, led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship in 2021, before being fired by the Wisconsin franchise in May 2023. Atkinson, who had a four-year spell as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, is currently an assistant coach at the Golden State Warriors.
A prominent basketball podcaster and broadcast analyst, Redick spent 16 years as a player with several franchises in the NBA, but has no coaching experience. Lue has been at the helm of the Clippers since 2020, having previously led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the championship in 2016 - a feat that made him one of only a handful of rookie coaches to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy.