Disconnect Between Coach and Players
In the wake of two consecutive defeats against the Nuggets and growing criticism of Darvin Ham’s coaching decisions, the Lakers swiftly made the decision to part ways with him as the team entered an early offseason. Subsequent reports from media outlets suggested that the entire coaching staff would be disbanded.
Amidst Ham’s four-year contract with two years remaining, the Lakers are set to pay out the remaining $10 million salary.
Following Ham’s dismissal, Los Angeles media outlet Lakersdaily pointed out internal issues that arose during his tenure, primarily focusing on the disconnect between him and the players.
Davis Expresses Frustration
After the second-round defeat, Anthony Davis expressed doubts about his role on both ends of the court. However, Ham disagreed with the star’s perspective, attributing it solely to post-game emotions and frustrations.
“When I saw Ham’s reaction, I knew he was done. He’s a confident guy, and when his abilities are questioned with no way out, it never ends well. But you don’t call your star players emotional,” said one Lakers insider.
Insiders also revealed longstanding locker room issues, with key players besides LeBron James and Davis experiencing bench roles at different stages. After finalizing the roster last summer, Ham seemingly favored new arrivals, causing surprise when Taurean Prince replaced Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup.
Loss of Trust and Confidence
Players like Prince, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell found themselves on the bench despite expectations of significant contributions. The failure of heavily utilized players like Prince and Cam Reddish to meet expectations further eroded confidence in Ham.
“Once you lose confidence within the locker room, you can’t get it back,” said a source. The fracture in trust between players and the head coach left Ham without allies as the season concluded.
Struggle with Tactics and Communication
An assistant coach from a Western Conference team remarked, “If you’re good at tactics, you might lack some communication skills; if you’re good at communication, you might compensate for tactical shortcomings. You can’t be bad at both, and Ham clearly struggled in both aspects.”
With LeBron’s final peak era approaching, the Lakers’ next coach is expected to have more coaching experience and earn the trust of stars like LeBron. Given the scarcity of talent, substantial financial investment is also anticipated.
Potential Candidates and Outlook
Media outlet The Athletic mentioned several potential candidates, including Mike Budenholzer, JJ Redick, and even Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. Additionally, standout assistant coaches like Kenny Atkinson, David Adelman, Micah Nori, and Charlies Lee are worth monitoring. (Lvbet)
