When LeBron James led the Lakers to a 134-110 victory over the Trail Blazers, there were more discord issues within the Lakers. Reaves, Hachimura and D'Angelo Russell are all likely to be traded away by the Lakers. And head coach Ham is also caught up in rumors that he is not respected by LeBron James.
Because the Lakers led the Trail Blazers in the score, LeBron James took the initiative to foul Scott Henderson, and then called a timeout and replaced himself off the court. As the video went viral, LeBron James was also criticized by fans and media for disrespecting head coach Ham.
In the face of criticism from the outside world, LeBron James also clarified that he was only acting according to instructions. LeBron James said, "No, I don't. Hamm made me foul and called a timeout, he was lying to me, stop talking nonsense!"
It is very necessary for LeBron James to stand up and respond to criticism from the outside world at this time. Because the Lakers have been mired in trade rumors, it will be difficult for LeBron James to establish his authority in front of his teammates if the head coach is completely dismissed. The 39-year-old doesn't usually comment on such things, but in this case, he clearly feels compelled to do so.
When the Lakers led 120-97, LeBron James called a timeout and substituted him. The Lakers have only achieved a 22-22 record this season, and Ham's coaching ability has been questioned again, and many fans and media believe that it doesn't matter if the Lakers have a head coach or not, because they have LeBron James, LeBron James is familiar with the tactics and playing styles of all teams, and he knows how to deal with it.
There have been a lot of rumors lately that Ham could be fired by the Lakers, but it is unlikely that Ham will be fired because he has the support of team owner Jeanie Buss. Especially after beating the Clippers in the Los Angeles derby, Ham's position as head coach seems to have become more secure.
In fact, with Ham's coaching ability, he is unlikely to gain the respect and support of Lakers players. Because he doesn't have a great individual system of play, his so-called defensive system, the Lakers have had for the past few seasons. He can't get the rest of the players motivated to play better, which is a big factor in the possibility of him being discharged.
With fewer than 40 games left in the 2023-24 regular season, Ham is very likely to be removed if the Lakers miss the playoffs this season, as the Lakers' offense hasn't improved, and they may need an offense-oriented head coach. D'Antoni may be a good candidate.