Darvin Ham is no longer coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, but that’s not surprising.
Despite back-to-back playoff trips, including a trip to the Western Conference finals last season, Ham was fired after just two seasons in the job.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports. Hamm wanted LeBron James, now 39, to limit his playing time so he could be fresh for the postseason.
According to the report, James was “furious about the idea” and the idea was then scrapped a few games into the season.
James played 35.3 minutes per game for the Lakers, who won their first play-in tournament game against the New Orleans Pelicans and entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.
In 71 games, the most since joining the Lakers in 2018, James played a total of 2,504 minutes, the most since leading the Cleveland Cavaliers six seasons ago.
Despite leading at halftime of every contest, James and the Lakers lost to the defending champion Denver Nuggets for the second year in a row, dropping the series in five games.
James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game, making his 20th consecutive All-Star appearance this season.
Potential candidates to replace Ham include former Bucks and Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer, former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson and broadcaster JJ Redick.
