J.R. Smith: Darvin Ham Was A Scapegoat For Lakers, Their Roster Wasn’t Good Enough To Win

J.R. Smith spoke a few weeks ago about Darvin Ham. He noted that the Los Angeles Lakers made Ham a scapegoat for their poor performances. Smith added that the Lakers didn't have a team that could compete with the best of the best, and outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the players on the team are just not up to the mark.

"Darvin Ham was a scapegoat. What are you supposed to do with that roster? Cam Reddish coming off the bench. I feel like he can be better, for sure. I feel like his game is the type that you can have an opportunity to run a second unit. But you gotta develop some more pick and rolls and mature your game a little bit."

"Other than that, their bench is nonexistent. You got LeBron trying to be 2005-06 LeBron, and he's still going out there putting up crazy a** numbers. And then, AD plays when he plays. But that isn't enough to win. To be in the Lakers' situation, Laker culture is win or die. When you exit first round after barely making the playoffs, that sh*t looks bad."

Smith certainly makes a fair point about Darvin Ham's tenure with the Lakers. The roster was far from one that could feasibly compete in the stacked Western Conference. And despite the brilliance of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakes have underperformed against the best of the best in the league.

However, there are valid criticisms of Darvin Ham's coaching style, whether that be his inconsistent lineups and changes last season, or his inability to make decisions on the fly when his team is struggling. While Ham was definitely blamed a lot for the Lakers' struggles, it's not like he was completely blameless.

Ham Claps Back At Lakers

Since leaving the Lakers, Darvin Ham has found success again as an assistant coach. He joined Doc Rivers' coaching staff with the Milwaukee Bucks at the start of this season. And his presence has benefitted the Bucks, as they recovered from their 2-8 start to the season to go on to win the 2024 NBA Cup.

Ham has seemingly learned from his mistakes with the Lakers, as he instructed Doc Rivers to not allow a massive champagne celebration after the cup win. Ham referenced his experience with the Lakers and how winning the cup derailed the team's focus and momentum going into the remainder of the season.

He also spoke after the NBA Cup win about his tenure with the Lakers, calling out the team for blaming him for their struggles while never giving him the credit he feels he deserved for the success he brought to the franchise, referencing their unlikely 2023 Western Conference Finals run.

Ham certainly has a right to feel aggrieved. And the improvement in his fortunes with the Bucks will certainly vindicate his position. But as mentioned above, Darvin Ham isn't blameless in the matter. And he should acknowledge where he went wrong as the head coach of the franchise.