Report: 3 finalists for Lakers head coach job revealed

Jan 20, 2020; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts watches from the sideline during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be narrowing their search for a new head coach, and at least two candidates are firmly in the mix for the job.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday that former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham are two of the candidates who have advanced to the final round of interviews with the Lakers.

Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts are among candidates who've advanced to the final round of interviews for the Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching job, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 20, 2022

Stotts coached the Trail Blazers for nine seasons from 2012-2021. The team made the playoffs eight of those years. Stotts has been viewed by many as the favorite for the Lakers job.

Ham’s first NBA coaching stint was as an assistant with the Lakers from 2011-2013, so he has ties to the organization. The 48-year-old has been with the Bucks since 2018.

Shams Charania of The Athletic later reported that there is a third finalist — Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson. Atkinson also appears to be among the last candidates standing in another team’s coaching search.

We know of at least one other candidate who reportedly has support in L.A., but Stotts appears to be the frontrunner at the moment.