The Los Angeles Lakers announced Friday that they were firing head coach Darvin Ham after two years with the team. It came as a shock to many because the Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals last year and, despite losing to the Denver Nuggets this year, played fairly well against them in the playoffs.
Rumors are circulating that both LeBron James and Anthony Davis wanted Ham out, so the Lakers fired him. This will be LeBron James’ 10th head coach during his NBA career and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith thinks this is a bad look for James that could tarnish his legacy.
“There is no way Davin Ham is gone if Anthony Davis and LeBron James wants him to stay,” Smith said on First Take.
He points out that neither star player has spoken up on behalf of their fired head coach, which proves they had a hand in their firing.
Smith also pointed out that all these changes during his career may have cost James some rings.
“Maybe that’s the reason LeBron has four rings instead of six,” Smith stated.
LeBron James does seem to run the Lakers and what he says goes. Many people blamed him for the Russell Westbrook debacle, so it wouldn’t come as a shock to anyone if he wanted Ham gone from the organization. He wants to win one more ring and maybe he thought Ham wasn’t the guy to get them there. Maybe it’s as simple as that.
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.