The Los Angeles Lakers managed to extend their season with a victory in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, but it might just be delaying the inevitable for head coach Darvin Ham.
Lakers star LeBron James poked the ball away from Denver’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during a defensive sequence in the fourth quarter. James was adamant that the ball had touched Caldwell-Pope last and implored Ham and the Lakers sideline to challenge the call. They failed to do so on time though, and the ball was inbounded, leading to a wide-open layup for the Nuggets.
James was irate, stomping his feet on the floor and hurling expletives. After Denver scored, James then continued to yell angrily at the Lakers bench.
Here is the video of the sequence.
LeBron LOST IT on Darvin Ham when he didn’t challenge this call 👀 https://t.co/LLLgu5toN8
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 28, 2024
TV replays showed that the ball was indeed last touched by Caldwell-Pope.
Looks like LeBron was right to be upset 😳
The ball was clearly off KCP. https://t.co/0lt5eDl3gr
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 28, 2024
Assistant coaches usually provide input on the decision to challenge a call as they are the ones who have the most immediate access to the video footage on the sideline. But the final decision ultimately rests with the head coach, and Ham was not able to pull the trigger on time there.
The sequence was ultimately something of a moot point as the Lakers still would win 119-108 to force a Game 5 in Denver. But that isn’t a great look for Ham, who recently butted heads with the Lakers’ other superstar and had to withstand Lakers fans loudly calling for his job after Game 3.
