The Los Angeles Lakers have parted ways with their head coach, Darvin Ham, as announced by the team on Friday. Reports indicate that his entire coaching staff was also released.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, expressed gratitude for Ham’s contributions. “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,” Pelinka stated.
“We all want to thank Darvin for his 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,” he added.
The decision comes two years after Ham’s appointment and just days after the Lakers were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, losing the series 4-1. The Lakers have struggled against the Nuggets, having lost 12 of their past 13 meetings in both regular season and playoff games.
The Lakers’ coaching change is expected to have ripple effects throughout the basketball world, including among the NBA’s global fanbase, which includes a significant number of followers from Asia. The move signals the storied franchise’s intent to realign and pursue greater success in the upcoming seasons.
Reference(s):
Lakers fire coach Darvin Ham, making him scapegoat for postseason loss
cgtn.com
