The Los Angeles Lakers made a surprising move on Friday by firing head coach Darvin Ham after just two seasons at the helm. This decision comes as the Lakers look to find the right person to lead the team in what could be the final chapter of LeBron James‘ illustrious career and bring them back into championship contention.
Ham, who had two years remaining on his contract, had a mixed record during his tenure. He achieved a 90-74 (.549) record in the regular season and a 9-12 (.429) record in the postseason, excluding his two play-in tournament wins. Despite this, he did lead the Lakers to a tournament title in Las Vegas last December.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham fires back at Anthony Davis after getting blamed for loss
The decision to part ways with Ham comes shortly after the Lakers were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets for the second consecutive season, this time in a five-game series in the first round. Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager, expressed gratitude for Ham’s efforts and acknowledged the team’s accomplishments under his leadership, including their impressive run to the Western Conference finals last year.
Pelinka stated, “We greatly appreciate Darvin Ham’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.” He also added, “While this was a difficult decision to make, it is the best course of action following a full review of the season.”
Postseason collapse leads to Ham’s firing
Despite LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing their most combined games since joining forces in 2018, the Lakers only managed to secure the No. 7 seed in a competitive Western Conference. This set up a challenging matchup with the No. 2-seeded Nuggets, which ultimately ended in disappointment for the Lakers.
The team’s inability to protect double-digit leads in all four of their losses during the series, including a significant 20-point lead in one game, likely contributed to the decision to make a coaching change.
In conclusion, the Lakers are now tasked with finding a new head coach who can maximize the potential of their star players and lead them back to championship contention. The organization remains committed to delivering high-caliber basketball to their devoted fans around the world.
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
Marca
