The Los Angeles Lakers have fired Darvin Ham, and we can’t say that we didn’t see it coming. Ham finished his coaching career with the Lakers with a 90-74 record, including a Western Conference Finals appearance last season. However, the Lakers lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets this season, and that sparked the end of Ham’s reign on the sidelines.
There are five major coaching candidates for the Lakers to consider to replace Ham, and each will have their own advantages when it comes to coaching the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis with a title-contending roster.
1. Tyronn Lue
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 47 Years
Coaching Record: 312-217
Tyronn Lue is at the top of the Los Angeles Lakers wishlist and for obvious reasons. Firstly, he is an exceptional coach when it comes to in-game management and rotations. He has built a reputation for making adjustments during a single game, and even more so during an NBA playoff series. This is a skill that the majority of coaches simply don’t have.
Not to mention, Lue was a former player who played for the Lakers and forged a career as a backup guard for a title-contending team that featured Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Perhaps most importantly, he coached LeBron James to an NBA championship in 2016 when he spearheaded a 3-1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors.
Lue is also the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers and has done a sensational job with the team by making them competitive despite the constant injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers made the Western Conference Finals in 2021 with Leonard out, and there are hopes Lue can accomplish great things with James and Davis on the roster.
2. Mike Budenholzer
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 54 Years
Coaching Record: 484-317
In terms of head coaching “free agents”, Mike Budenholzer is the best right now. His coaching is widely respected and the man has been through it all with the San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, and Milwaukee Bucks. Budenholzer started as a video coordinator with the Spurs before becoming an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich, later winning four NBA titles.
Budenholzer then became the head coach for the Atlanta Hawks, where he continued his progression as a coach until the 2014-15 season when he won Coach of the Year and was named the head coach for the Eastern Conference All-Stars. Budenholzer also had his hand as an executive, becoming the head of basketball operations for the franchise before the Milwaukee Bucks came knocking.
With the Bucks, Budenholzer assisted with the growth of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, eventually winning an NBA title with them in the 2020-21 season. Despite his sudden firing following the 2022-23 season (after his brother died in a car crash), Budenholzer has the acumen to be the head coach for a title-contending team with the Lakers because he has proved it multiple times over.
3. JJ Redick
Credit: Fadeaway World
Age: 39 Years
Coaching Record: 0-0
Beyond sharing an extremely interesting podcast with LeBron James, JJ Redick is a sound basketball mind. His points during his takes on sports shows are impressive and he demands respect with his basketball knowledge. We already saw how a role player (and excellent shooter) like Steve Kerr developed into an all-time great coach, so why can’t JJ Redick follow the same mold?
That is what the Lakers are thinking about when potentially considering Redick for their head coaching position. Redick doesn’t have head coaching experience at a professional level, and that could be a major issue, but there are no doubts about his basketball mind stemming from his days as a Duke legend in college. The key for Redick to succeed is getting the respect he deserves from his players, and based on what we are seeing from the podcast, it is there.
Redick and James will be able to share ideas on the court, in the locker room, and in meetings. His lack of experience could place him third on the list of best Lakers coaching options but don’t sleep on the prospect of the former sharpshooter finding a new career path this summer.
4. Phil Handy
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 52 Years
Coaching Record: 0-0
Phil Handy is currently an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and a player development trainer. He began purely as a player development coach for the Los Angeles Lakers under Mike Brown before transitioning to the role of assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, contributing significantly to their success.
From there, Handy brought his wealth of knowledge to the Toronto Raptors, serving as an assistant under the esteemed Nick Nurse. But the pull of the Lakers was strong, and Handy found himself back in familiar territory, this time under the guidance of Frank Vogel. Throughout his tenure, Handy appeared in a staggering six consecutive championships. With the Cavaliers, he clinched four Finals appearances from 2015 to 2018, securing championships in 2016 with LeBron James as a player.
His stint with the Raptors added another Finals appearance in 2019, followed by another championship with the Lakers in 2020 with James also on the roster. Handy’s coaching acumen and winning mentality could make him an interesting target for the Lakers who could give him the shot to prove his worth as a head coach.
5. Kenny Atkinson
Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 56 Years
Coaching Record: 118-190
Kenny Atkinson has coaching experience and some interesting parts of his NBA story. He began his NBA coaching career as an assistant under Mike D’Antoni with the New York Knicks in 2008, before transitioning to the Atlanta Hawks under Mike Budenholzer in 2012.
However, it was in 2016 that Atkinson’s star truly began to rise when he was appointed as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. Despite a challenging start, Atkinson’s tenure with the Nets showcased steady improvement. In his second season, the team saw notable progress despite the departure of key player Brook Lopez. By his third season, Atkinson had guided the Nets to a playoff berth, marking a significant milestone in the team’s journey.
However, Atkinson’s time with the Nets ended unexpectedly when he stepped down as head coach on March 7, 2020. However, he became an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers under Tyronn Lue in November 2020 before being an assistant coach for the 2022 championship Warriors. With this extensive experience in the league, and despite his sub-.500 coaching record, Atkinson could be a great option for the Lakers to consider.
