Ex-NBA champion favored to become next Lakers head coach

A former NBA championship-winning coach is favored to become the next Los Angeles Lakers head coach.

The Lakers on Friday announced the firing of Darvin Ham as their head coach. That was an outcome that had been expected since the team lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets in their first-round playoff series.

One reporter has already listed 4 potential candidates to replace Ham.

Additionally, Bookies.com has listed the odds for who might become the Lakers’ next coach. FormerBucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, who led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA championship, is favored to be hired by the Lakers.

Here is the full list of candidates that have odds:

Mike Budenholzer +400
Chris Quinn +550
Jay Wright +600
Sam Cassell +650
Phil Handy +700
Frank Vogel +850
Becky Hammon +1000
JJ Redick +1200

Budenholzer, Redick and Kenny Atkinson were mentioned by a separate reporter as potential candidates. Frank Vogel feels like a joke since he previously coached the Lakers and is already on the hot seat with the Phoenix Suns. Jay Wright seems unlikely too since he has been retired from coaching since 2022.

Budenholzer is available, has a great resume, and won a championship. It almost doesn’t make sense to hire anyone else if he is interested in the position.

Budenholzer coached both the Hawks and Bucks for five seasons. He led his teams to the playoffs 9 out of 10 possible seasons.