![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4bArVF_0v0O3Q6v00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=4bArVF_0v0O3Q6v00)
The Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship behind the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Since then, the Purple and Gold has struggled to reach the same level of success.
The Lakers expected Darvin Ham to get the team out of the rut, but he failed to do so in the last two years. As a result, the Lakers let Ham go and replaced him with JJ Redick as the head coach for the upcoming season.
Ham's stint with the Lakers is notorious for not being on the same page with his players. Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook are two of the best examples of players who failed to reach their potential under Ham's coaching.
Ham apologized to Beverley
Pat Bev played just 45 games for the Lakers during the 2022-23 NBA season before getting traded. Since then, Beverley has openly criticized his time in Los Angeles. The 36-year-old recently revealed that his former coach, Darvin Ham, apologized to him.
Beverley unveiled the conversation between him and Ham on his podcast and mentioned he was in Las Vegas when coach Ham reached out to him.
"He's like 'Can I get five minutes? I just want to let you know Pat, I apologize...' Oh sh*t, you know as a coach you're never supposed to apologize," Beverley said . " The decision you make is the decision you make. He says 'I apologize Pat, you was right. Need to practice more. F**k that. We need to do more. Can't just win off talent.' He had a lot on his plate as a first-year coach -- you got Russ, you got AD, LeBron... he's not gonna listen to Pat Beverley."
Beverley concluded by pointing out that Coach Ham also asked for Russell Westbrook's number as well. It won't be a stretch to assume that Ham extended his apology to the former NBA MVP.
The Lakers in Ham's era
Coaching the Lakers is not everyone's cup of tea. After all, they are the second most successful team in NBA history, with 17 NBA Championship banners hanging in the rafters.
During Ham's stint with the Lakers, the organization finished in the play-in spot each season. However, they still ended up playing the playoffs. In fact, the Lakers exceeded expectations during the 2023 playoffs, reaching the Western Conference Finals.
The fanbase expected the team to do even better in the 2024 postseason. Unfortunately, the Denver Nuggets sent them home in the first round. With reports about Ham's deteriorating relationship with the players flooding the internet, the organization sacked the former Detroit Pistons player and replaced him with JJ Redick, who has no relevant coaching experience.
Related: Patrick Beverley says Luka Doncic is the best player he’s ever guarded: “I can't touch him, he flops”
Comments / 0