Lakers fire head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons
After much speculation, the Los Angeles Lakers parted ways with head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons.
“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,” Rob Pelinka, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager, said in a statement via ESPN. “We all want to thank Darvin for this 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. The organization will remain unwavering in its commitment to deliver championship-caliber basketball to Lakers fans around the world.”
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In his brief tenure, he held a 90-74 regular-season record and went 9-12 in the playoffs. He helped guide the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals last year. Although, the team fell short in the first round against the defending champion Denver Nuggets this season.
Ham’s departure doesn’t come as much of a surprise given the lingering dialogue around the situation. Ham struggled to gain headway as a legitimate long-term option while the team’s shortcomings became a strong source of frustration for the fan base.
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The Lakers are expected to go through an extensive search for their next head coach. The potential list of candidates includes JJ Redick and Los Angeles Clippers’ Ty Lue if he’s let go by the franchise.
Los Angeles will likely thoroughly vet the process for finding their next head coach.
