Ex-LeBron James teammate disagrees with Lakers’ firing of Darvin Ham

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

One of LeBron James’ former teammates thinks the Los Angeles Lakers made the wrong move by firing Darvin Ham.

Norris Cole, who played with James for three seasons on the Miami Heat from 2011-2014, joined “Unsportsmanlike” on ESPN Radio Friday. He discussed the Lakers’ firing of Ham and their consideration of JJ Redick for the job.

Ham was fired by the Lakers in early May after the team’s season. It was just his second year on the job, and the Lakers had lost to the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The Lakers are currently conducting a search for a new head coach, and a few candidates have been mentioned as favorites.

Cole laughed when asked about the possibility of Redick being the Lakers’ coach. He also expressed disagreement with the Lakers’ decision to fire Ham.

“I think that [the Lakers] prematurely got rid of Darvin Ham. I don’t think he deserved that. I think that they pulled the trigger on that too quickly,” Cole told host Evan Cohen. “I think in order to win you have to go through some ups-and-downs, and he’s a young coach, so I think they didn’t bear with him when he went through his struggles as a young coach.”

Cole added that he doesn’t think firing Ham, and replacing him with Redick, would be the right move if the Lakers are trying to win a championship.

You can listen to the clip of Cole here:

“Sometimes it doesn’t even feel real”

Norris Cole on the #Lakers firing Darvin Ham and entertaining JJ Redick as their next HC pic.twitter.com/TIHQA57dB1

— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) May 31, 2024