LeBron James, Darvin Ham Futures In Question After Lakers’ Playoff Struggles

The Los Angeles Lakers lost the third game of the series against the Denver Nuggets. Losing three straight games puts everyone in an undesirable position. Recent struggles will have a huge impact on every member of the franchise and some of them may be on their way out. LeBron James joined the Lakers to win and so did Darvin Ham, but their playoff aspirations got stuck in the middle of nowhere.

The Nuggets beat LA in the Western Conference Finals last season and may cut their playoff hopes in Game 4. Lakers players have to win this one. If Denver eliminates them from the playoff race, Ham may lose his job. The same happened to Frank Vogel even though he coached the team to a title in 2020.

Ham and LeBron may leave the Lakers after the playoff race

Numerous reports confirmed the alleged tension between Ham and Lakers players. According to these reports, some players disagree with Ham’s game decisions. Team owner Jeanie Buss and Lakers executive Rob Pelinka appreciate his professionalism, but this playoff run is far from ideal.

NBA analysts believe that Ham is in the hot seat at this point of the season. Anthony Davis was visibly frustrated after the Game 2 loss. This was interpreted as a shot at Ham and his assistants.

Ham didn’t voice his opinion on his future with the Lakers. Winning Game 4 is a top priority right now.

“It’s as simple as win or go home. It’s as simple as that,” Ham told reporters on Thursday. “We’ve got to come with competitive pride and try and get one here. Stay alive one game at a time. That’s all we have is the next game. So, that’s all we should be concerned with. Coming in here Saturday, have a competitive pride, and try to put this thing together.”

King James to make a big decision on his next move

LeBron has just finished his 21^st regular NBA season. He has accomplished a lot in his career and has cemented himself at the top. Adding a few more titles to his portfolio would be ideal, but the Lakers don’t seem to be going in that direction. If they lost Game 4, this would be a frustrating end to another disappointing season.

LeBron’s future with the Lakers depends on multiple factors. The four-time NBA champion could leave the Lakers if his oldest son Bronny joins another franchise. He may also leave the team and sign with another competitor and win a title.

The Golden State Warriors are often mentioned as the best destination for LeBron. He always says that playing with Stephen Curry is something he thinks of quite often.