After firing Darvin Ham, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a new head coach. After Los Angeles’ first-round NBA Playoffs exit, the team decided to part ways with Ham after two seasons.
There was a lot of turmoil throughout the 2023–24 season between Ham and the Lakers’ veteran-heavy team. His dismissal resulted from a significant disconnect that developed late in the regular season and during the playoffs.
James plans to exercise his right to a contract opt-out and enter NBA free agency this summer. Although it’s widely believed that James will rejoin the Lakers, there are other considerations as well.
James is especially interested in learning more about the Lakers’ plans for a team that significantly underperformed in the previous campaign. James and D’Angelo Russell will both be entering free agency. A third star to join King James and Anthony Davis might be found by Los Angeles, according to some rumor that suggests they could utilize fellow guard Austin Reaves as trade bait.
Regarding the Lakers’ hunt for a head coach, former NBA player JJ Redick has become one of the front-runners. Given that Redick has never been a coach before, this is unexpected. He will soon launch a podcast alongside James and is more of a media celebrity. Thus, the relationship.
LeBron James is not involved in the Los Angeles Lakers’ search for a head coach.
James has no say in the Lakers’ head coach search, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, in what must be seen as a startling new report. He is not at all involved in the search.
“LeBron James is not a candidate for the Lakers head coaching position, I’ve been informed. James has made it plain that the organization is making this decision; he hasn’t changed his mind on JJ Redick with the Lakers, according to Charania’s Monday report.
There has been a general consensus that James would be involved in the search for a replacement for Ham. After all, over his career that deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he has influenced coaching judgments.
It remains to be seen if this most recent report provides evidence that James was weighing his alternatives before exercising his free agency. One would think he would want to take part.