Darvin Ham, the Los Angeles Lakers’ coach, is under a barrage of criticism after his club was eliminated from the NBA playoffs by Denver.
Darvin Ham, the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, is facing mounting criticism. The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs on Monday, putting Ham under criticism. The Athletic reports that Ham’s future with the squad is uncertain.
The Lakers’ loss to the Nuggets sparked a range of social media reactions. After Denver’s 108-106 win in Game 5, some fans showed sympathy for the Lakers’ coach.
Others saw humor in the situation.
The Lakers are said to be parting ways with their head coach following a five-game series loss to the Nuggets. This marks LeBron James’ fastest departure from the NBA Playoffs.
The Lakers’ season ended with a dismal series loss against the Nuggets. The squad led throughout the most of the postseason series, but only managed to win one of those games. Following the loss, Ham was asked to reflect on his experience coaching the team thus far.
“My mind’s all over the place right now, so that’s a great question, but maybe at some point I’ll give you an answer,” he told ESPN. “I’ll tell you, it has been a hell of a two years. It’s been a long two years sitting in this seat. There were many nice things accomplished, but the ultimate goal is to win. I understand how that feels. I’ve had that feeling a few times.
“So, you want to do all in your power to avoid and perpetuate the feeling of defeat that we are currently experiencing. So, again, I’ll control what I can, keep growing, and maybe become a better coach as a result.
The mood on the Lakers’ sideline appeared strained at times during this series. During Game 5 against the Hammers, Lakers star LeBron James appeared to yell sometimes. There is conjecture that James may leave the squad to play elsewhere before retiring. The Lakers are also rumored to be interested in signing James’ son Bronny, so the two can play in Los Angeles together. Ham may not be able to withstand what comes next, but that will most likely be determined soon.
After two seasons in Los Angeles, the Lakers coach’s regular-season record is 90-74. His postseason record is a disheartening 9-12, which is clearly unacceptable to Lakers fans. Ham was an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks when they won the NBA Championship in 2021.
