Darvin Ham Fired by Los Angeles Lakers

After Playoff Exit

May 3, 2024 11:46 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have fired coach Darvin Ham after just two seasons with the team, the team announced Friday.

Ham's dismissal comes after the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets for the second consecutive season. The Lakers finished the regular season with a 33-49 record, the worst mark in Ham's two seasons at the helm.

Ham, 49, was hired by the Lakers in 2022 after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks. He was tasked with turning around a Lakers team that had missed the playoffs in the previous two seasons.

In his first season, Ham led the Lakers to a 33-49 record and a playoff berth. However, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns. This season, the Lakers again finished with a 33-49 record and were eliminated in the first round by the Nuggets.

The Lakers have not won an NBA championship since 2010 and have not reached the NBA Finals since 2012. The team has struggled in recent years due to injuries and poor roster construction.

Ham's firing is the latest in a series of moves by the Lakers to shake up their organization. The team recently hired former NBA star Magic Johnson as president of basketball operations and fired general manager Rob Pelinka.

It is unclear who will replace Ham as head coach of the Lakers. The team is expected to begin a coaching search immediately.