Getty Image / Matthew Stockman
The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Friday they had fired head coach Darvin Ham, ending his two year stint with the team that will be remembered for spats between the stars and the head coach and woeful underperformance from a team that everyone believed could make deep NBA Playoffs runs without him at the helm.
The Lakers are not a franchise that tolerates mediocrity and Darvin Ham‘s tenure as head coach of the Lakers had been characterized by pedestrian results and play. Frankly, it’s shocking that it took until the Lakers nearly got swept by the Nuggets for him to get fired but he’s gone and the team can now move forward seeking a new head coach.
Los Angeles released this statement across social media after Darvin Ham was fired:
Los Angeles Lakers
In both seasons under Darvin Ham before he was fired, LeBron James and the Lakers made the NBA Playoffs through the play-in tournament. But the Lakers were swiftly dealt with against the Nuggets, losing the series 4-1 which was the final nail in the coffin of Ham’s time in Los Angeles.
Prior to being hired as the head coach of the Lakers, Darvin Ham had been an assistant with the Bucks, Hawks, and Lakers but this was his first time as a head coach in the NBA. He was a G League head coach for one season with the New Mexico Thunderbirds.
Lakers fans everywhere rejoiced at the news that Darvin Ham had finally been fired as he became the poster child for LA’s shortcomings. One fan joked “Kendrick cooking Drake and this??? A GREAT DAY FOR LA.” Another on X commented “Lakers let’s get the best coach money can buy. We are the Lakers, the number 1 NBA Franchise in the world. We need the number 1 best coach available. No excuses for LBJ’s final years. Let’s Gooooooooooo.” That certainly reflects the LA Lakers mentality where ‘second best’ is not accepted.
One fan thanked the ownership:
Jeanie, thank you for listening to the fans.
— Shawn (@BeSmoothShawn) May 3, 2024
Another tossed in a popular LeBron James meme:
@JeanieBuss redemption tour?? pic.twitter.com/GQosH19D28
— Jamie 𓅓 (@jnmegatron) May 3, 2024
It’s unclear at this point who the LA Lakers will target but it seems inevitable they will get the best candidate available for LeBron James’ final contract year with the Lakers.