Apr 27, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham during warms up before game four of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers concluded their 2023-24 NBA season with a loss in Game 5 of their series against the Denver Nuggets, ending their playoff run. While many fans and experts advocate for Lakers head coach Darvin Ham’s dismissal after the disappointing season end, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green holds a contrary view.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Green discussed the Lakers’ season end and various offseason narratives concerning the team. He expressed his belief that Ham faced challenges due to a roster that lacked the quality necessary for championship contention this season.
Green argued against firing Ham, citing the team’s roster limitations compared to the previous year when they were a play-in team. Some may find merit in Green’s perspective, as the Lakers were not widely considered strong title contenders throughout the season. Blaming Ham entirely for the team’s shortcomings might be deemed unfair.
However, overlooking critical aspects of the Lakers’ playoff series loss to the Nuggets would be a mistake. Despite leading in all four losses, including significant leads in some instances, the Lakers ultimately faltered. Such collapses in crucial games often raise questions about coaching effectiveness.
While players share responsibility, Ham faced criticism for his in-game decisions, including lineup choices, timeouts, and challenges. Anthony Davis added fuel to the fire by seemingly questioning the coaching staff after Game 2’s collapse, which may have strained relations further.
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Despite Green’s defense of Ham, internal sentiment within the Lakers organization may differ. Whether Ham returns for another season remains uncertain, but indications suggest his tenure in Los Angeles may be nearing its end.
