Los Angeles Lakers part ways with coach Darvin Ham after two seasons following NBA playoffs elimination

The Los Angeles Lakers have fired coach Darvin Ham after two seasons in charge.

The Lakers announced the dismissal four days after a first-round playoff loss over five games to the Denver Nuggets ended their season.

Reigning champions the Nuggets also defeated the Lakers in the Western Conference finals less than a year ago in what was Ham's first season as a head coach in the NBA.

A former NBA championship winner with the Detroit Pistons as a player, Ham amassed a 90-74 record in his two-season span in LA, which included two playoff berths and a championship in the inaugural In-Season Tournament.

In a statement posted to social media, the organisation said: "We greatly appreciate Darvin Ham’s efforts on behalf of the Lakers and recognize the many accomplishments achieved over the past two seasons including last year’s remarkable run to the Western Conference finals.

“We all want to thank Darvin for this dedication and positivity. While this was a difficult decision to make, it is the best course of action following a full review of the season. The organization will remain unwavering in its commitment to deliver championship-caliber basketball to Lakers fans around the world.”

Ham replaced Frank Vogel, who was fired by the Lakers 18 months after winning the franchise’s 17th championship in 2020.

There was hope that a Lakers side that included a healthy Lebron James and injury-free Anthony Davis could contest for the title, in what could have possibly been James' last real chance at a championship aged 39.

But after winning the In-Season Tournament, inconsistent play and mediocre defence took hold of the side in the middle of the season, racking up loss after loss.

Despite the Lakers being on top of the Nuggets for multiple periods, a series of comeback wins for Denver turned the tide.

Now, James, Davis and the Lakers have failed to win a playoff round in three of their four seasons since winning the 2020 championship in the Florida bubble.

James, the leading scorer in NBA history, has not yet decided whether to return for his 22nd NBA season.

He had for a long time said he planned to stay in the league to play with his son, Bronny, who at 19 confirmed he will enter the 2024 NBA draft.

But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, LeBron isn’t considering playing with his son Bronny as a priority as he looks into the next portion of his career.

After firing Ham, who had two years left on his contract, the Lakers will be hiring their fourth coach since James arrived in 2018. The new coach will be the Lakers’ eighth in 14 seasons since Hall of Famer Phil Jackson’s departure in 2011.

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