Darvin Ham recently opened up about the complexities and pressures of coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, particularly with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster and things got interesting as he still celebrates the NBA Cup title he won with the Milwaukee Bucks.

In an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Ham shared his candid thoughts on the challenges he faced during his tenure and the scrutiny over his lineup decisions. As the head coach, Ham was constantly under pressure to manage the expectations and demands of coaching two of the league’s top players, all while dealing with frequent injuries and maintaining team chemistry.

“It’s being reported like I’m just throwing some lineups up against the wall to see what sticks,” Ham explained. “No, man, we were really navigating a lot, from guys being hurt to having the oldest player in the league (James) to managing A.D.’s injury history. It was a lot.”

There was some success but pressure is always on

Despite the hurdles, Darvin Ham achieved notable success with the Lakers, leading them to the Western Conference Finals in 2023 and clinching the inaugural NBA Cup title. However, the 2024 season proved to be more challenging, culminating in the team’s elimination in the first round of the playoffs and Ham’s subsequent firing in May 2024.

Reflecting on his accomplishments, Ham expressed disappointment: “To do as well as I did, I swear to God, anywhere else I’m probably looking at an extension with what I did,” he stated.

Ham’s candid reflections shed light on the often underappreciated difficulties of coaching in the NBA. Managing high-profile players like James and Davis requires not only strategic acumen but also a deep understanding of the physical and emotional demands placed on athletes.

As Ham moves forward in his career, his honesty about the challenges he faced with the Lakers offers a valuable perspective on the realities of coaching at the highest level.