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Los Angeles Lakers’ Darvin Ham Gets High Praise from Rival Coach Despite Losing in First Round of 2024 Playoffs

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Christian Alamodin | Last updated 4/30/24

Many believe that Darvin Ham’s days with the Los Angeles Lakers are numbered after his team failed to break through the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.

After putting up an impressive coaching performance last season, the regression he and the rest of the Lakers showed this season has many believing that his time with the Purple and Gold is coming to its natural conclusion. Talks about his future have gotten so loud that even the man in question is saying ominous statements.

However, not everyone is on the Ham hate train. Some people believe that Ham is a terrific coach and should be given another chance to transform the team.

Surprisingly, one of the people who said that is the head coach of the team that might cause his firing.

Mike Malone thinks Darvin Ham is a great coach for the Los Angeles Lakers

Mike Malone may have completely outmaneuvered Ham in the series as his Denver Nuggets proved too much for the Lakers. However, he doesn’t think that Ham is necessarily worse than he is.

He explained that he thinks he deserves to stay with the Lakers due to the quality of coaching he’s displayed this season.

Per BroBible’s Jacob Elsey:

“I think Darvin Ham is a hell of a coach,” Malone said. “That’s not an easy job. I think Darvin does it with class. He’s a good man, good coach, and I wish him all the best. Hopefully, he’ll be around there for a long time because he deserves to be.”

Sure, one might think that Malone is saying this so his Nuggets can keep beating the Lakers in the postseason. However, the numbers don’t lie: Ham has posted a 90-74 record in his two seasons in charge of the Lakers, and that number can’t be easily achieved if you aren’t good at your job.

While his inability to adjust to what the Nuggets are doing may spell Ham’s fall from the Lakers hot seat, he’s proven that he might be worth at least one more season in charge before he gets the axe.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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