In a move many saw coming from a mile away, the Los Angeles Lakers fired Darvin Ham on Friday after he had been their head coach for two seasons. He had been the recipient of significant criticism throughout the season, and fans are very happy that he is gone.
However, some across the NBA landscape believe the Lakers were hasty or unjustified in firing Ham. These people believe more of the blame should fall on the team’s players or front office, and not necessarily on Ham.
Former NBA head coach George Karl took the Lakers to task not just for deposing Ham, but also for their tendency to switch head coaches every couple of years.
Great organizations have systematic accountability, consistency and don’t scapegoat individuals, especially those whose responsibility is limited.
The Lakers have had 7 coaches in the last 15 years. None have survived more than two seasons.
That’s not a recipe for greatness.
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) May 3, 2024
He even attacked their 2020 NBA championship, claiming it “doesn’t count” because it was won inside the Walt Disney World Resort bubble during the nadir of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lakers will be more successful going fwd when they acknowledge the only championship they won since Phil left doesn’t count and they’ve been unstable for 15 years.
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) May 3, 2024
Karl, who used to coach the Denver Nuggets, the team that has eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs the last two seasons, has gone at the Purple and Gold multiple times in the recent past. He attacked the legitimacy of their 2020 world title last October, and he implied superstar big man Anthony Davis didn’t deserve to be named one of the NBA’s top 75 players of all time.