Final candidates for Lakers HC job include Bucks' Darvin Ham, Warriors' Kenny Atkinson, former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts

The Lakers fired Frank Vogel from the post in April following a disappointing 33-49 season and star LeBron James was reportedly "very enthused" by the prospect of the team bringing in former point guard-turned-Golden State head coach-turned-commentator Mark Jackson as the next leader in Los Angeles. It was reported in early May that Jackson was the favorite for the then-vacant gig with the Sacramento Kings, but that job ultimately went to Warriors assistant Mike Brown.

Both Atkinson and Ham were among a host of candidates to interview for the lead position with the Charlotte Hornets earlier this month. Atkinson was an assistant with the New York Knicks from 2008 to 2012, Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2016 and spent the last two seasons on the bench with Ty Lue's Los Angeles Clippers and Steve Kerr's Warriors respectively.

Ham played for six teams during his eight-year NBA career between 1996 and 2005, including the Detroit Pistons, where he earned a championship in 2004. He is been an assistant coach with the Lakers (2011-2013), Hawks (2013-2018) and Bucks (2018-2022).

Stotts spent two seasons as the head coach in Atlanta from 2002 to 2004, two years in Milwaukee from 2005 to 2007 and nine seasons at helm of the Trail Blazers from 2012 to 2021. The 64-year-old holds a 517-486 career record in the regular season, but a 23-44 mark in the playoffs.