The Los Angeles Lakers enter a pivotal Game 2 matchup against the defending champs Denver Nuggets on Monday night. A loss will not exactly spell the end of the series for LA, but going down 0-2 against Nikola Jokic and Co. will make it very difficult for the Lakers.
There’s no denying that second-year coach Darvin Ham will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders. However, it appears that said pressure might not be as high as some folks might expect it to be.
Los Angeles Lakers News: Darvin Ham’s Job Security, Revealed
According to team insider Anthony F. Irwin of Lakers Daily, Ham seems set on returning as LA’s head coach for 2024-25:
“Sources: Even a first-round exit might not be enough to convince the Lakers to fire Darvin Ham,” Irwin reported (paywalled).
Apparently, Ham’s seat isn’t as hot as some fans might expect. The Lakers obviously still want to win their first-round series against Denver, and their championship aspirations remain intact. However, it appears that Ham will remain at the helm even if LA fails to do so.
This should alleviate a ton of pressure on Ham, who can now focus on doing everything he can to help the Lakers upset the defending champs in the first round without having to constantly be looking over his shoulder. Hopefully, this assurance from the front office, albeit unconfirmed, is the type of motivation the 50-year-old needs to properly lead the charge for LeBron James and Co.
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