The Los Angeles Lakers have made a significant coaching change, announcing the dismissal of head coach Darvin Ham and his entire coaching staff on Friday, as reported by ESPN.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' vice president of basketball operations and general manager, expressed gratitude for Ham's contributions. \"We greatly appreciate Darvin Ham's efforts on behalf of the Lakers and recognize the many accomplishments achieved over the past two seasons including last year's remarkable run to the Western Conference finals,\" Pelinka stated.
Pelinka further added, \"We all want to thank Darvin for this dedication and positivity. While this was a difficult decision to make, it is the best course of action following a full review of the season. The organization will remain unwavering in its commitment to deliver championship-caliber basketball to Lakers fans around the world.\"
The decision comes two years after Ham was hired and shortly after the Lakers were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets with a 4-1 series loss in the Western Conference first-round playoffs. This exit marks the second consecutive season where the Nuggets have swept the Lakers, both in the playoffs and regular season, with the Lakers losing 12 of their past 13 meetings against Denver.
The Lakers are now tasked with finding a new leadership direction to propel the team towards their championship aspirations.
Reference(s):
Lakers fire coach Darvin Ham, making him scapegoat for postseason loss
cgtn.com
