Will Darwin Ham Be Fired After Lakers’ Elimination From the Playoffs? NBA Insider Provides a Crucial Update

Darwin Ham and Taurean Prince(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers had a difficult 2023–24 season that ended with a 3–1 loss to the Denver Nuggets, raising questions about Darvin Ham’s future as the team’s head coach. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Ham may face firing if the club loses Game 5 tomorrow.

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is estimated to be worth $700 million by Celebrity Net Worth. Wojnarowski also said in his report that the organization cannot “pay for a head coach,” which puts more strain on Darvin Ham.

“If you are a head coach of the Lakers and you get swept in the first round/lose in five,you’ve got job security issues. Darvin Ham will have that. Here’s what the Lakers will have to look at: who’s out there? Budenholzer is the most accomplished coach that’s reliable. The Lakers have not shown a willingness to pay for a head coach.”Wojnarowski said,

Interestingly, if the Lakers decide they are ready to part ways with Ham, this may force them to start looking for a new head coach. On June 3, 2022, Ham was appointed the team’s head coach. Then, as the seventh seed in the Western Conference standings, he guided the Lakers to a 43-39 regular-season finale as per the NBA Standings.

Darwin Ham Believes They Can Overcome Defeat in Game 5

Darvin Ham and the Los Angeles Lakers defied the odds to prolong the series and their playoff aspirations last Sunday, just when they were on the verge of a potential 4-0 series sweep conclusion against the Denver Nuggets. Despite the pressure, the purple and gold team prevailed 119-108 in Game 4, with LeBron James scoring 30 points (14-of-23) to lead the way.

As Lakers Nation’s Daniel Starkland reports, Darvin Ham discussed surviving a difficult first-round series and continuing to give himself a shot, one game at a day, after the thrilling victory.

Tomorrow at the Nuggets Ball Arena, the club will play the 2023 Defending Champions in a crucial Game 5 clash. In addition, during the team’s inaugural season of league play, they became the first in history to win the NBA In-Season Tournament.