Lakers News: Snoop Dogg Confirms Shaq’s Jeanie Buss Warning As LA Looks To Please LeBron

The LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers have now failed to secure the NBA championship for the fourth consecutive year. After the Denver Nuggets ended their run for a second successive season, it was only a matter of time before the Lakers roster saw a few changes. Both Snoop Dogg and Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal believed this would happen. And with now-former head coach Darvin Ham having said his goodbyes, their opinions aligned again…

When the Lakers were a game away from a repeat sweep, Shaq was asked how much longer he thought Darvin Ham would stay in LA. The four-time NBA champion said, “If the Lakers lose, changes will be made. I know that for a fact. This is a storied franchise, a historical franchise. And we’re used to winning. We’re all about winning. So changes will definitely be made.” After LeBron James & Co.’s eventual exit, Snoop Dogg said something similar on the Stephen A. Smith Show.

When the analyst asked the rapper what he thought about Ham’s firing, Snoop Dogg claimed it “wasn’t his fault.” Rather, he felt it was all done keeping the team’s future and best interests in mind. “We’re used to winning championships. We’re not used to being knocked out of the first round, barely getting to the playoffs. As fans, we depend on [Jeanie Buss, Lakers President] to make the right moves. No championship, no job.” In his two-year stint as the head coach, Ham had a rather disappointing 90-74 record. And despite winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament this season, the Lakers’ regular season performance didn’t get any better this year.

In a campaign where both LeBron James (71) and Anthony Davis (76) played more games than they have since the 2017-18 season, the Lakers could only manage a 47-35 record – just a 4-win improvement from 2022-23. In fact, Snoop Dogg, who’s criticized Davis in the past (often for his injuries), appreciated the 31-year-old: “I didn’t say nothing bad about him on Instagram. I usually say a little something, but this year, I had to give him all due respect ’cause he played his a** off; he showed up.”

Considering the Lakers’ lineup was as healthy as they could’ve hoped, Darvin Ham’s firing was imminent. In a way, both Shaq and Snoop Dogg felt that firing Ham had two benefits for Jeanie Buss’ Lakers. One, it would allow the management to experiment with a new coach without repeating past mistakes. And two, a change in leadership might just be what the Lakers need to get LeBron James closer to another ring. That belief of possibly winning another championship would likely keep him close.

Shaq has also alluded to this in the past: “In the locker room, résumé is important,” adding, “You mean to tell me LeBron’s gonna listen to Darvin Ham in the thick of things? You think AD is gonna listen to Darvin Ham? That’s no disrespect to Darvin Ham, but no championship experience, no playoff experience.” With the next NBA season a long time away, the franchise has plenty of time to decide what their roster will look like, not just in terms of their head coach but also their players.

When Stephen A. Smith said, “I don’t what [the Lakers] can do [with the current lineup],” Snoop Dogg stated, “I do. You can clear that locker room out.” Stressing the importance of three-point shooting and running their offense like that, the Grammy-nominated singer suggested Jeanie Buss bring in fresh, young talent. But with that, the Lakers would also need a coach who would know how to maximize the talent of that group. And when it comes to finding a replacement for Ham, the process has already begun.

Who is in the running to lead LeBron James & Co. next season?

While the Los Angeles Lakers have revealed no official list of candidates, the rumor mill has been swirling with possible names. While each of them has their own personality and leadership style, they are capable enough to take LeBron James and the Lakers where they want to go. The team is making moves silently but it’s making all pivotal decisions to ensure that past mistakes aren’t repeated.

The franchise has already taken some names off their list. Two of them include Mike Bundenholzer, who is joining hands with the Phoenix Suns, and Charles Lee, who is joining the Charlotte Hornets. But they still have plenty of people left to fill that vacancy. One of the standouts is JJ Redick, who was associated with the NBA as a player for over 15 years.

Unlike some of the other potential candidates, Redick does not have any coaching experience to his name. However, even before retirement, he started a weekly podcast to share his thoughts on the basketball world. After his exit as a player, he became an analyst for ESPN. The biggest advantage in Redick’s favor is his close association with LeBron James – they’re co-hosts of the Mind the Game podcast.

Another person rumored to be on the shortlist is current Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson. While he was never a player, Atkinson has over 16 years of experience coaching different teams from the league. From 2016 through 2020, he even served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets before moving back as an assistant coach with a different franchise. Despite never showing any indications of making a switch, there were rumors during the 2022 NBA Finals that he had accepted an offer from the Charlotte Hornets. Therefore, there is a possibility that he could be persuaded.

Tyronn Lue, the current head coach of the now-eliminated LA Clippers, is someone else who shares a close association with the Lakers. Given that he is already serving as head coach, though, the chances of him joining the other LA team aren’t that high.

Who do you think has the potential to lead LeBron James & Co. toward a championship ring? Let us know in the comments down below!