According to NBA insider Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, some Los Angeles Lakers players plan to speak to general manager Rob Pelinka about coach Darvin Ham‘s future after the season ends.
Ham won’t be fired this season since there are only 20 games left. However, if the Lakers don’t make the 2024 playoffs, Ham’s job could be in jeopardy.
“Per sources speaking on the condition of anonymity, Ham’s job is still very much safe this season, but if the Lakers don’t make the playoffs (meaning, secure the sixth seed or win their way into an actual playoff series), that could change as soon as this summer,” Irwin wrote. “Pelinka’s focus is still squarely on this season, sources say, and conversations about Ham’s future have yet to truly commence. … All year, reports have surfaced about how various guys in the locker room feel about Ham, and per a few sources, at least a couple players plan to speak to Pelinka about Ham’s future as soon as this season ends.
“There remains legitimate concern throughout the organization how fit Ham is to continue as head coach.”
The Lakers are 33-29 on the season. They are in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. If the season ended today, the Lakers would need to win two games in the play-in tournament to make the 2024 playoffs as the eighth seed.
Under Ham, the Lakers are 12th in the NBA in points per game and 21st in points per game allowed.
In January, NBA insiders Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that there was a deepening disconnect between Ham and the Lakers locker room. After that report went viral, Los Angeles owner Jeanie Buss texted Ham and told him his job was safe.
The Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals in Ham’s first year as head coach. They got swept by the Denver Nuggets, who won the 2023 title.
More must-reads: