NEW DELHI:
Los Angeles Lakers
are grappling with a challenging phase as they face a growing disconnect between players and head coach
Darvin Ham
, according to a report by The Athletic on Thursday.
The Lakers, who started the season on a promising note, have struggled in recent weeks, posting a 3-9 record since their NBA in-season tournament victory over the Indiana Pacers on December 9.
The reported discord centers around issues with player rotation and adjustments made by Coach Ham as the team copes with injuries and inconsistencies. Despite missing key players, including
Rui Hachimura
and D'Angelo Russell, the team has faced challenges in finding a cohesive rotation, with Ham utilizing 10 different starting lineups.
A significant rotation change occurred in November when
Austin Reaves
was moved to the bench due to early-season inconsistencies. He returned to the starting lineup in the recent game against the Miami Heat, where the Lakers extended their losing streak to three games.
The situation was further complicated by adjustments made during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 23, where
Jarred Vanderbilt
received his first start of the season, and
LeBron James
was shifted to the point guard position. While the Lakers secured a victory in that game, they have struggled since, recording a 1-4 record.
Despite the challenging stretch, Coach Ham expressed confidence in the team's ability to overcome adversity and find solutions. Last season, in his first year as head coach, the Lakers started 2-10 before ultimately reaching the Western Conference finals. Ham, 50, currently holds an overall record of 60-57 as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
(With Reuters inputs)
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