Soon after the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers from the playoffs in the first round, Darvin Ham’s time with the franchise came to an abrupt end when the team announced his firing.
Ham led the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals in his first season after taking over for Frank Vogel during the 2021–22 campaign. However, the Nuggets, who went on to win the NBA title, swept the Lakers.
Beginning with a perfect 7-0 record and a tournament victory in Las Vegas, where LeBron James won MVP honors, the 2023–24 Lakers season seemed good. After that, though, the team’s season took a turn for the worse as a series of defeats sent them lower in the Western Conference rankings, ultimately leading to a depressing 47-35 regular-season record.
The Lakers’ trip came to an abrupt end as they lost a 4-1 series against the Nuggets, despite a late rally that guaranteed them a position in the play-in tournament and then the playoffs. Ham considered his turbulent two-year stint with the organization and acknowledged the difficulties he had.
The Lakers are currently looking for a new head coach as Ham’s resignation signals the end of an era for the team. When asked about his future with the organization, the team’s mainstay, LeBron James, hinted to possible changes that could come, raising doubts about his time as a Laker.
When asked about his future with the organization, the team’s mainstay hinted at possible changes that could come, raising doubts about his time as a Laker. Throughout the season, James’ individual performance was outstanding, and his remarkable numbers demonstrated his continued superiority on the court. But Ham’s early playoff exit led the Lakers to decide to cut ties with the player, who finished with a 90-74 record during his time there, including a dismal 1-8 playoff record versus the Nuggets.
The Lakers face the difficult challenge of creating coaching continuity as they start their search for Ham’s replacement, particularly with LeBron James potentially going into his fourth head coach since joining the team.
As the coach who worked with James for the longest, Vogel’s exit underscores the team’s persistent efforts to achieve steady success despite many changes to the coaching and player staff. Avatar
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