NBA Assistant Coach Says Lakers Coaching Gig ‘Just Isn’t A Good Job’

An NBA assistant coach told Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily that the Los Angeles Lakers coaching gig “just isn’t a good job.”

The Lakers fired Darvin Ham after two seasons and Frank Vogel was fired after three seasons despite winning the 2020 title. 

“It just isn’t a good job,” one NBA assistant coach said. “They negotiate as if it’s some grand honor to coach the Lakers, but the reality is you’re looking at a couple years before you’re going to get scapegoated. That’s obviously the case with most coaches, but the Lakers in particular don’t seem to value the position.”

The Lakers offered UConn head coach Dan Hurley a six-year, $70 million contract to coach them. However, Hurley declined the offer and will remain at UConn. 

Los Angeles is pivoting back to JJ Redick, James Borrego, David Adelman and Sam Cassell. Redick and Lakers star LeBron James co-host the “Mind The Game” podcast. 

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, LeBron is “staying clear” from the Lakers coaching search. The leading scorer in NBA history can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option worth $51.4 million. 

The Lakers went 47-35 this season. They lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Denver also swept Los Angeles in the 2023 conference finals. 

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Lakers want to make sure Anthony Davis is aligned with the new head coach. Davis didn’t have a good relationship with Ham. 

Davis and LeBron became Lakers teammates in 2019-20. Los Angeles won the 2020 championship, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, missed the postseason in 2022, lost in the 2023 conference finals and lost in the first round this year. 

LeBron, who turns 40 next season, is expected to play one or two more seasons in the NBA. His son, Bronny, is in the 2024 NBA Draft.