Bronny James, son of Lakers star LeBron James, may have unintentionally thrown some shade at Darvin Ham during the preseason, highlighting ongoing concerns about the former head coach’s approach.

While the 2023-24 NBA season is gearing up, discussions around Darvin Ham’s time as Lakers head coach remain prevalent. Bronny James, despite being a newcomer to the Lakers, is the latest to share a comment that, although seemingly innocent, added to the ongoing narrative that Ham’s coaching wasn’t well-received by the team.

During a preseason interview, Bronny was asked about his impressions of the new head coach, JJ Redick. While he praised Redick’s leadership, his remarks contrasted with how players, including his father, LeBron, seemingly felt about the “vibes” under Ham’s leadership last season. This subtle comment adds to what has been an avalanche of indirect digs aimed at Ham from various Lakers players, including D’Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish, who also voiced frustrations about Ham’s style earlier in the preseason.

Was Ham’s coaching style the problem?

Despite his brief stint, Ham’s tenure has been scrutinized, particularly with players now openly sharing their thoughts. Many remarks from the Lakers during media day and preseason interviews pointed out the differences between Ham’s and Redick’s coaching approaches. These sentiments, whether intentional or not, reinforce the idea that the team didn’t thrive under Ham’s leadership, making the switch to Redick a welcome change for the roster.

As the team prepares for the upcoming season, it will be interesting to see how Bronny adjusts under Redick’s guidance and whether more players will continue to reflect on the Ham era with a critical lens.

Whether or not Bronny’s comment was meant to throw shade, it highlights a larger conversation around Ham’s time with the team and its lasting impact.