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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James’ season came to an abrupt end. It took the Denver Nuggets only five games to bury the Purple and Gold. Yet, their early exit from the postseason or their underachievement weren’t the prominent storylines after the game. An unfiltered press conference from head coach Darvin Ham grabbed everyone’s attention.

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When asked about the unstable rotations throughout the season, Ham provided the media with an unforeseen answer. “If you’re coaching a team and one of your starters is like 10 games in a row, just s–ting the bed, what are you going to do?” said the Lakers HC. Fans and the NBA fraternity began connecting the dots.

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At first, the speculation was that Ham’s comments were focused on D’Angelo Russell. He was scraped out of the starting lineup early in January before becoming a regular again after his fiery shooting stints off the bench. It could also be directed toward Auston Reaves, a fan favorite who also served some time on the sidelines after initially being a starter.

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But moving on from whom it was meant for, did it have any validity from the Lakers’ point of view? Fans were quick to bash Ham, but LeBron James’ recent comments might make them rethink their decision.

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LeBron James admits to Lakers’ woeful shooting early in the season

James and JJ Reddick sat down once again over a glass of red wine to discuss their beloved sport of basketball. When speaking about the Lakers, the former Clippers alluded to how the Lakers’ offense early in the season wasn’t good enough. Surprisingly, James was in agreement with his podcast mate.

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“We always say the law of averages is going to even itself out. The first month and a half two months we couldn’t hit the side of a f*****g cow’s ass from three point. We couldn’t,” James explained.

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USA Today via Reuters

In those first two months, the Lakers didn’t shoot over 30% from beyond the arc. They ranked 29th in three-point percentage and dead last in three-point attempts. During this underwhelming stretch, the Lakers looked sporadic, barely jumping over .500. Their slump from range forced them to play dominantly on the inside, pivoting to the likes of James and Anthony Davis.

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This was the major reason the Lakers ranked 6th in free throws per game. They had to alter their rotations for these exact reasons. Darvin Ham was tasked with forging a stable roster with the hopes of competing for the title. However, injuries to role players such as Gabe Vincent and Christian Wood derailed the initial plans. The head coach tried out various combinations to find the best solution with the available resources at hand.

By no means does it mean Darvin Ham was not at fault. But his statement might hold some truth to it. While it wasn’t the most supportive tone for his players, Ham provided a straightforward perspective on his life as the coach of the Lakers this season. His job is in jeopardy at this very moment.

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Given the discourse between him and Russell throughout the season and the sour response, do you think Darvin Ham deserves another chance? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,503 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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