LeBron James appeared disinterested in hearing what head coach Darvin Ham had to say during a timeout.
Once again, the spotlight is on the dynamic between LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. During Tuesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, in the fourth quarter, James seemed largely disengaged from Ham’s instructions during a timeout.
While Austin Reaves seemed somewhat attentive, LeBron James appeared completely disinterested in observing the play that Ham was outlining. This lack of interest could be attributed to the game’s imminent conclusion, as the Warriors held a commanding 127-110 lead with less than three minutes remaining.
The Lakers suffered a 134-120 loss, with Head Coach Darvin Ham’s decision-making being heavily scrutinized as a major factor in the defeat. In a critical moment with the Warriors leading 90-84 in the third quarter, Ham introduced a lineup that had never played together before, comprising Spencer Dinwiddie, D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, and Jaxson Hayes.
This move backfired as the Lakers surrendered a 16-3 run, essentially sealing the game’s outcome. LeBron James, who performed admirably with 33 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals, might have been frustrated by the coach’s questionable decision. The loss pushes the Lakers to a 45-35 record, likely securing them the ninth or tenth seed in the Western Conference.
This means they’ll need to win two elimination games in the NBA Play-In Tournament to reach the playoffs, which presents a challenging scenario. If the Lakers fail to advance and are eliminated from the tournament, it’s doubtful that Ham will retain his job.
The lack of alignment between him and LeBron James on crucial decisions suggests a strained relationship that could impact his tenure with the team.
