“Cut Throat Job”: Ex-Blazer Blames ‘Megastars’ LeBron James & Kevin Durant For Darvin Ham, Frank Vogel’s Firing

Firing after an unsuccessful playoff run has become more common in the NBA. This year, Darvin Ham and Fark Vogel found themselves out of a job after the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns were eliminated in the first round. However, a former NBA player believes that the pressure stems from stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant rather than their inability to manage a rooster.

Bonzi Wells said, “It’s a cutthroat job. Especially when you got a mega star like Bron and KD and those type of personalities on your team…it’s so much pressure that you have to feel every second of the day.” 

Is there any truth to what the former Portland Trail Blazers players is saying? There might be. First off, one has to start with the firing of Adrian Griffin from the Milwaukee Bucks. In the middle of the season, the Bucks changed their head coach from Griffin to Doc Rivers and still lost in the first round. Even Wells comments about it saying. “They (Bucks) were 31 and 13, he got fired.. you know what I mean? How does that make sense?” 

A similar view on the matter was shared by Stephen Jackson on his recent podcast. Speaking about a leaked video showcasing LeBron James taking over coach Ham’s job, he said, “Coaching Bron ain’t easy. Guys have fallen wayside,” and spoke of instances that have proven true — Darvin Ham, David Blatt. It hasn’t been much different for KD either. Having had 6 head coaches in 6 six years, the forward has met the claims often.

So, it seems like what it comes down to is a coach’s ability to manage mega-stars like James and Durant. If a coach has a big “personality” they end up managing the team well, otherwise, they end up becoming the scapegoats for a terrible season like Ham and Vogel! However, who do the Lakers have in mind to take the reins?

Who Will Coach LeBron James and The Lakers next season?

The Lakers are embarking on a quest for their next head coach, aiming to regain their footing in the NBA Finals. According to reports from The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jovan Buha, Los Angeles is conducting an extensive search, eyeing candidates like Mike Budenholzer, Kenny Atkinson, J.J. Reddick, and Ty Lue, should he become available.

Despite his dismissal from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023, Budenholzer has a solid coaching reputation, highlighted by an NBA championship in 2021 and two Coach of the Year awards. The Suns thus, have now roped in the coach for a reported 5-year $50 million contract. Atkinson, with prior head coaching experience at the Brooklyn Nets, emerges as a contender after serving as an assistant coach for the Clippers and Warriors.

Reddick’s potential candidacy is unconventional, given his recent retirement and lack of coaching experience, instead focusing on media endeavors. Meanwhile, Lue, currently with the Clippers, brings championship pedigree and ties to the Lakers organization, although his availability remains uncertain. So who will it be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.