Report: Darvin Ham ‘highly likely’ to be fired by Lakers

Nov 30, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham at a press conference during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to an end on Monday night in Denver, and Darvin Ham’s run as the head coach of the team may have ended as well.

Not long after the Lakers lost 108-106 to the Nuggets in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series, a report from The Athletic said that Ham was “highly likely” to be let go by the Lakers.

The report says there was “discontent” in the team’s locker room. The report cited “fluctuating rotations, game plans and lack of adjustments” as problems for the team. The report went into depth about some of the lineups Ham played throughout the season that were viewed as problems.

The Lakers went 43-39 last season in their first year under Ham. They beat the Grizzlies and Warriors in the playoffs before getting swept by the Nuggets in the conference finals.

This season, the Lakers went 47-35, secured the 7th seed, and then lost in five games to the Nuggets in the first round.

The Lakers believe they have a team that should go well beyond making a first-round exit in the playoffs. When their coach only leads them to the 7th seed and a first-round exit, his job will be in jeopardy. It also doesn’t help that one of the team’s starts doesn’t seem to be too happy with the coach.

Ham was originally signed to a four-year deal by the Lakers. His time as the team’s head coach may end after just half that time.