The news that the Los Angeles Lakers have opted to move on from not only head coach Darvin Ham, but the entire coaching staff, points to a fresh start for a team that’s largely underwhelmed for the past two seasons.
Even when the Lakers made a run to the Western Conference Finals last season, LeBron James and company managed that postseason push as the No. 7 seed entering the playoffs after going 43-39 in the regular season. While the Lakers posted a 90-74 regular season record over two years under Ham, the front office opted for change and it appears that both LeBron James’ and Anthony Davis’ opinions on the next head coach be a factor.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin explained as much while sitting down with Scott Van Pelt on “SportsCenter.”
“I’d expect the pendulum to swing back towards an experienced candidate as they look to fill [the head coaching vacancy] … Of course, LeBron James’s opinion will be taken into consideration here,” McMenamin said, “but not just LeBron James, Anthony Davis as well I’m told. The team kind of looks at Anthony Davis as finally taking the torch from LeBron in the last season and a half.
Even with James potentially becoming a free agent this offseason, it’s no surprise that the front office would look for his insight on the head coaching vacancy as they attempt to sign the veteran superstar to a new deal. But the decision to include Davis in that decision makes as much (if not more) sense.
Davis, 31, has played at an All-Star level again for the past two seasons and was named an All-Star outright in 2023-24. He averaged 25.9 and 24.7 points in 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively, showcasing the ability to take over games on both ends of the floor.
Davis has put together the two best seasons of his career as a rebounder and in regards to his field goal percentage between 2022-23 and 2023-24. He averaged 12.5 and 12.6 rebounds per game in those respective campaigns and shot north of 55.6% from the field in each season.
