Darvin Ham is no longer coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, and that’s no surprise.
Despite back-to-back trips to the playoffs, including a visit to the Western Conference Finals last season, Ham was fired after just two seasons on the job.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that Ham wanted to put a minutes restriction on LeBron James, now 39, with the idea that he would be fresher for the playoffs.
According to the report, James “bristled at the idea” and the idea was then abandoned a few games into the season.
James played 35.3 minutes per game for the Lakers, who entered the playoffs as a No. 7 seed after winning their first game of the Play-In tournament against the New Orleans Pelicans.
In 71 games – his most since joining the Lakers in 2018 – James has logged a total of 2,504 minutes, the most he has accumulated since leading the Cleveland Cavaliers six seasons ago.
James and the Lakers were eliminated by the defending champion Denver Nuggets for the second straight season, losing the series in five games despite leading at halftime in each game.
James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game and earned his 20th consecutive All-Star appearance this season.
Former Bucks and Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer, former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson and broadcaster JJ Redick have emerged as potential candidates to replace Ham.
New York Post
