I am not surprised about Darvin Ham, but I am sad

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[@VaruunkaiSpy]

anyone defending Darvin Ham only watched the Lakers occasionally. he's obviously not the only issue on the team, but he's a significant part of it

[@jgates9786]

Or they just have a different opinion. Didn't hear too many complaints when they made the WCF after spending most of the year as the 13th seed as a bottom 5 3-point shooting team in the league, in his first season might I add

[@S0LIDUSS]

Bor was so awful, they saying this because it’s all rooted in Lebron hate, Dham literally put in a new rotation in an elimination game 😂 bro sucks

[@tommydavidwalker2445]

Oh, is that what it is? Good thing someone as smart as you is here to tell us. Thanks for telling us

[@ronnielister1023]

I'm a Sixers fan but watched every Lakers game last 3 years and watch the Lakers more than Sixers and I thought ham should been fired even after losing in the WFC

[@jgates9786]

@@ronnielister1023 If you believed the fans, there's only, like, 2 good head coaches in the NBA

[@dom3221]

What sealed Darvin Ham's fate is multiple things: - He benched his 3rd, 4th and 5th best players (Russell, Reaves, Hachimura) for a month to start Taruean Prince, Jarred Vanderbilt and Cam Reddish. - He absolutely sucked at adjusting in game. Would never xall a timeout at the right time. - Multiple players, from D'Angelo Russell, to Austin Reaves, to Rui Hachimura to Anthony Davis has called him out for his incompetence. He very clearly lost that locker room.

[@gbell8112]

Their all bums, what are you talking about smh

[@kicknowledgesmith8608]

Taking a coaching job in LA is never a good move. The Lakers are impatient due to all the banners, they panic way too much every season. They trade away good young talent for old players, instead of building. It's championship or bust mentality that hurts the Lakers.

[@GardeniaBlossoms_]

It only became that way when LBJ joined the team.

[@kicknowledgesmith8608]

@@GardeniaBlossoms_ yes but even before that. The Lakers traded for Steve Nash and Howard at one point. panicking. They traded away so much talent over the years. I remember the years Pau Gasol was always in trade talks. The Lakers need to relax, super teams are dying, the young boys and the patient organizations are starting to shine now. Stars teaming up no longer mean anything. Good teams are beating them now.

[@ChromeHeart-hx2ms]

@@GardeniaBlossoms_no that’s not true. However, Bron Does get coaches fired too often

[@andziledlamini4777]

Dude realistically it's both the Celtics and Lakers. Young guys never get PT there instead are shipped in the G League.

[@THUGGO773]

A new coach alone won't fix the Lakers

[@lario1030]

💯

[@clintbrewster9282]

I agree

[@GreatLakes2551]

Need a center

[@trevorhandberry2158]

Fam… He was a terrible coach for that team. He played players and sat other because of FAVORITISM! That’s crazy bro. I mean SAS is just a talking head. When you look at the numbers based on his COACHING, man…they lost a lot of games because of bad game planning and management

[@ChromeHeart-hx2ms]

Yall act like there was so many good rotations on that team.. Greg popppvich would’ve had a better season with this team? Steve Kerr would’ve won a chip with this team?

[@ChromeHeart-hx2ms]

Yall gotta be fr firing coaches just to bring a new coach or a even worse coach

[@sosaraycharles358]

@@ChromeHeart-hx2ms bro he started prince & reddish over DLO and Reaves when they were healthy 💀 and those 2 are low impact players

[@erikdayne5429]

@@ChromeHeart-hx2msthere was one good lineup on the team. Dlo Reaves Rui LeBron and AD. That’s the lineup that got to the conference finals last year. And Ham broke it up less than 2 weeks into the season because Reaves had a slow start because he played with team USA in the offseason, and later he benched Rui for Taurean Prince. It was mindless nonsense and stuff like that is why he got fired. Rui and Reaves making a combined $31 million this year and Ham benched them for Reddish and Prince who are making around $7 million combined.

[@trevorhandberry2158]

@@erikdayne5429 thank YOU! You clearly watch the games. They talk from emotion and the “eye test” c’mon now.

[@diamondsharkentertainment7327]

Lakers have no starter center. The only team without. Sounds like the front office is the blame.

[@WutTheDeuceGaming]

They have two guys that can play the 5, more than enough. Just because (PF) is next to your name, doesn't mean you can't play the 5.

[@calebnothin67]

If you so sad for him, get him a new coaching job 😂

[@leetraviusmckay314]

He should call the league office 😂

[@terriwalsh612]

ROB PELINKA NEEDS TO BE FIRED! HE'S DUMB AS HELL FOR LETTING GO OF KEY PLAYERS!

[@lacydo]

Lebron wanted Westbrook

[@mauricefears1430]

​@@lacydoWestbrook wasn't the problem

[@HoodrichTee]

B Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Julius Randle

[@-JAVY-]

He's a puppet

[@HoodrichTee]

think they had Kuzma & Caruso too smfh

[@genosmith6123]

Darvin Ham was not the problem

[@BuhdeeProductions]

As a Lakers Fan, I get anxious about who’s coaching cause for the past few years coaches aren’t even consistent staying for more than 2 years and they get fired. It’s really getting harder to watch games knowing it’s always an up and downhill when it’s season especially playoffs. It’s very hectic.

[@bdpentertainment6652]

Stephan A. Everyone need to STOP blaming Lebron for Ham getting Fired… His services was no longer needed when A.D told the press, “Sometimes We Don’t know What To Do.”

[@benjaminsmith2287]

yeah, "stretches where we don't know what to do on both ends of the court"

[@almightyprofessor]

Anybody that watched a Lakers game knows Darvin Ham was bad

[@jjstraka1982]

And you will say the same thing about whoever Lebron throws under the bus next year.

[@almightyprofessor]

@@jjstraka1982 You need to get off your knees about Lebron lol

[@WutTheDeuceGaming]

​@@almightyprofessorHe's part of the issue, this isn't all on Darvin Ham.

[@almightyprofessor]

@@WutTheDeuceGaming He’s part of the coaching issue? Cause that’s what I’m addressing

[@jaymez316]

I'm not surprised ONE bit, but what I will be fair about is the Lakers didn't have the personnel for the type of way that Ham wanted to coach.

[@erikdayne5429]

No personnel could work with Darvin Ham because the way he wants to coach is to throw out nonsense lineups and never use his timeouts

[@RaheemC26]

⁠@@erikdayne5429The lakers had the most roster switches since d ham got there bc lebron can’t figure out who he wants to play with . 1st year as a coach he gets them to the WCF .. If D ham is the reason for the lakers failure , that means we shouldn’t see any roster changes . AD is weak as f . Trade him ! One shoulder tap & he’s crawling on the floor

[@brob8204]

I want y'all to stop this narrative that if the Lakers, a 7th seed, had actually gotten an 8th seed that it was smooth sailing. Stop it. There's a reason you rarely (if ever) see a last seeded team win a championship in any sport, it's because the terrain gets really rough. The Lakers may have fared better against OKC, I get you that, only b/c of OKC's youth and inexperience. But that would not have been a walk in the park and they probably still lose b/c OKC is a very good team, hence the #1 seed. After that the Lakers would have had to get past the Mavericks, and THEN either the Timberwolves or the Nuggets, all on the road. I just think it's disingenious to say the seeding made all that much difference.

[@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrother]

Exactly! OKC and Minnesota would’ve beaten the Lakers in 4 or 5 games.

[@dthrust9037]

@@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrotherokc wouldn’t hav

[@Anthonycheesman33]

Is there a black coach that Stephen a won’t defend lol?

[@trevorhandberry2158]

Nope. Dont matter how bad the coach is objectively with stats and advanced stats lol. SAS is just a talking head

[@deairismayo7066]

Doc Rivers 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@alexmartin628]

@@deairismayo7066 Doc Rivers is a black man but carries himself as a white man, if you know what I mean.

[@user-cw7ly8nu5j]

He is a race hustlers, he believes blk cant do no wrong

[@bigsmit47]

@Anthonycheesman Not a fan of Stephen A, but to answer your question,...Yes there is,...look up his comments on Bengals former Coach Marvin Lewis,. There's your answer

[@tyronewilliams6778]

I know a job is better than no job but ain't no way anyone should be interested in coaching the Lakers until James and Davis leaves. Best chances for job security

[@TheLaundryGuy32]

One of the requirements to coach Lebron is to allow him to shine no matter what. Even if it means limiting minutes for solid players therefore destroying team chemistry and limiting potential for team success. Notice how well they played in his absence. Even went up to Boston and curb-stomped them easily.

[@crunchtimeplaya9784]

People wanna blame ad lebron sure but hams rotations all season were fucking terrible people also dont act like ham and vogel were both rookie coaches there setting the lakers up from the jump with shit hirings

[@BooksbySelena]

The Lakers have a bigger problem. It's not coaching. Yes, Darvin shares some responsibility but when will AD and Lebron?

[@StirFryChicken]

Time to go all in and hire JJ Redick

[@leewilcox5848]

Both years the Lakers should have won fifty plus games, the team underachieved with Ham.

[@kevincampbell6586]

Lefools wouldn't have beaten The Ant man and Minnesoter😂

[@AkAGoLakers]

Looks bad for Lakers Management, The Damn NBA and this Bullshit I miss the 90’s..

[@haywood0457]

Not one Lakers fan is sad though. Not a sad Lakers fan ⬇️

[@frankiefernandez9225]

I’m sad too

[@jotavetres]

agree 100% about Kawhi, love the guy but man....i wish i had it like that 😅

[@xiol9899]

Gotta hard disagree - eyes on the prize, the finals is what matters. 12/13 games lost to the same team, this was his moment to prove and cement himself as a great coach - did he do everything to make it a good run? no. If he can't turn something around in the playoffs and not look totally ineffective and detrimental, he should go. Players want to see more than holding timeouts and ducking accountability. He burnt himself by creating animosity with his players under pressure, doesn't look good, no one wants to play for him. Managing a bad loss and season matters, he really didn't do himself any favors even if you think he wasn't dealt the right hand. The players gave a hell of a performance, yet they felt let down and held back by him. I'd trust them over any outsiders defending Darvin, they know the inside story with him instead of speculation on what he supposedly deserves.

[@user-bq7cl7iu4n]

It's no secret LeBron wanted darvin ham gone smh

[@Keepit_100]

He aint the only one… lakers nation aint mad at this move shit happens

[@jeanwilde5357]

The problem with the team is Lebalco and not Ham. They play better when he sits

[@TheLaundryGuy32]

Try getting a Lebron fan to admit that.

[@WutTheDeuceGaming]

​@@TheLaundryGuy32won't happen even if you shove all those box scores in their face.

[@jeanwilde5357]

​@@TheLaundryGuy32That won't happen. There's no point in arguing with one collective brain cell among them anyway

[@timmytv7554]

Difference between American media and abroad - you don't see this level of tears for fired coaches outside the U.S.

[@babesababe5885]

Bro you pretty much demanded champion coach Frank Vogel get fired not long after he won a ring for the purple and gold but have so much grace for coach Darvin Ham.

[@jeffreycarter4886]

Mr Smith. I really think you show enough concern for people in general to say that when I look in the mirror, and my eyes are getting large like yours are in this interview, then I say I'm approaching a danger zone. Personally I haven't figured it out, but in my case I say I'm having too much of a "good time" or not enough. If you know what I mean. God bless you and everybody in America and the world feel good.

[@kennyetienne1386]

Stephen A Smith, quick question the success of wolves is credit to the leadership of Ant Man or coach Finch?! cause i don’t really get the lakers rules regarding keeping or firing coaches!!!

[@koopathequick2605]

Kobe was getting coaches fired left and right during his career but no one talks about it

[@GardeniaBlossoms_]

Not 4 in 6 years. Majority of Kobe’s nba career was coached by Phil Jackson.

[@hoodtraveltv7723]

Every NBA coach has 2-3 years.

[@koopathequick2605]

@GardeniaBlossoms_ Mike Brown, Mike D'Antoni, Byron Scott and Luke Walton. 4 coaches in 6 years.

[@othellorucker8107]

Not in this time span chump. Ya fake king gettig exposed

[@thaddeusmason4043]

5 championships. Well worth it. Big duh

[@George-ds3pu]

That's my fav team, ashamed they didn't make it.❤😢😮

[@sonnyjason2]

Good…. He was horrendous

[@jamesreynolds4487]

I agree he sucked there was no real substance

[@clintbrewster9282]

Darvin ham was not a bad coach he was not giving a fear chance.

[@sweatypits8315]

Poor Darvin Ham gonna be making 10mil for chilling at home. I'm sure he will live.

[@David-yy9kl]

This how I know some of y'all didn't watch the Lakers. Darvin Hams coaching decision are the reason they were the 7seed in the first place. This dude legit cost them at least 5 games in just bad coaching. Yes it's on the players but let's not act like Ham Polo poor coaching this season put them behind the 8 ball. A better coach would have won a couple more games with that roster

[@nsesites]

Didnt Lebron/AD do any due diligence on Darvin Ham before they signed off on it? Shouldnt they have discussed X and O with him?

[@gbell8112]

Lakers Head Coach == Scapegoat, you're either desperate or deluded wanting that job. It's a trap, don't do it !!!!!

[@mr.nflandnba]

Its just interesting this same energy wasn't given to Frank Vogel. I don't think Darvin Ham should have been fired either. But I don't recall Stephen A being sad for Frank Vogel. Check the resume with the Lakers 3 seasons 127-98 18-9 record in the playoffs 1 conference finals appearance 1 finals appearance 1 finals win

[@kenjeshadugui]

🙄

[@ceeejaaay1]

It was Stephen a said Vogel shouldn’t have been fired as well

[@mr.nflandnba]

@@ceeejaaay1 just found a video of stephen a on first take saying vogel deserved to be fired

[@leetraviusmckay314]

Kendrick Perkins "maybe LeBron should retire and be the head coach" 😂

[@iKingRev]

If Lebron had so much pull with the Lakers, why isn’t Tyron Lue the head coach or Jason kidd? He wanted both of them.

[@erikdayne5429]

The only people defending Darvin Ham are people who didn’t watch Lakers games, and that should tell you everything you need to know

[@digitalian99]

how can Darvin Ham coach properly if there's one Laker player that's not coachable?

[@leetraviusmckay314]

"Russell Westbrook got more flagrants than points" 😂

[@_sparrowhawk]

Who cares? You're a Knicks fan. You don't care about the Lakers. People who actually watched LA games, noted that players were 'improvising' too much because Darvin wasn't calling enough plays.

[@ikatokiyazaki2343]

He will lead the pistons team to a 0-82 record season

[@mariojones6687]

Did you call the league office & find out why he was fired?

[@ned5162]

I want to see JJ as the coach

[@vivekgupta3929]

I agree that only a new coach will not help the lakers win a championship, but you can't seriously be defending Darvin Ham. That just shows that your kinda full of it when you say "I watch the games", cuz if you did, you'd know that there were a lot of things such as his rotations, timeouts, etc. To say that HE took the team to the WCF after they didn't make the playoffs the previous season is also a flawed argument imo because first, the teams were different. and second, if you're gonna say that its not his fault that the team can't get past the nuggets, then you also can't say that he's the reason they got to the WCF last season. Also, when you say that he was given a flawed roster, keep in mind that this is the same roster which you and all the other analysts were raving about at the beginning of the season. The fact that Ham wasn't able to use a reigning 6th MOY candidate or the 3&D ability of the starting PG of the runners up last season to the best of their abilities just goes to show how he isn't a good coach. I will agree that the Phil Handy firing is kinda weird, but there is no way you can tell me that Ham didn't deserve to get fired. He isn't the right coach for this team.

[@vinshuuu2641]

Stephen A clearly does not watch NBA games

[@vnas2012]

Some movements need to happen with the lakers Get rid of Pelinka And hire Phil Handy as head coach

[@kouleeofficial]

There Lebron goes extending his record for having coaches fired

[@thamoneyent]

Asking like you be with them during practice

[@PhoneStandChannel]

I was in agreement SAS until, Minnesota beat Denver at home! 😮 That means the Lakers who on paper seem to be better than the Timberwolf’s must have been badly coached 🤷🏾 So Ham should be out. That’s how I see it.

[@jjstraka1982]

The Lakers were not beating "anyone else". The Wolves would smoke them.

[@rodericksmith1482]

I completely agree with Steven A. It really isn't fair for them to just fire D.Ham and all the coaching staff to be honest. It's something about L.A. that I just don't like anymore. I do hope D.Ham bounces back way before the Lakers do. This is an unfair, graceless organization.

[@erikdayne5429]

Thanks for letting us know you didn’t watch any Lakers games

[@rodericksmith1482]

@@erikdayne5429 some people see truth, others just see whatever

[@cwp3206]

It's simple.... make lebron the player coach like Lenny Wilkens. When he leaves then get a coach

[@onlyy1trav]

GYRTJ - Mystery OUT NOW‼️

[@rplayer360]

Lakers been behaving terribly

[@RonaldSchmidt-jt9gx]

Lakers always blame coaches

[@redcomet0079]

His defensive schemes were anemic I liked him, but the job was too big for him

[@jeromeburnett8041]

The Lakers lost because they had 2 teams to avoid, the Kings in the playin and the Nuggets in the 1st round.

[@johnathantwinz810]

You wanted Kyle kuzz gone as well

[@KatDaddySlim27]

Now folks sad, 😂😂..was just calling this dude a bum a couple of weeks ago..media is wild

[@user-ck9cd4kf9f]

THESE ARE WELL PAID PROFESSIONAL NBA PLAYERS. THEIR JOB IS TO PLAY AND THINK LIKE PROFESSIONALS, ITS NOT A COACH'S JOB TO PERFORM ON THE BASKETBALL COURTS. IT'S THE PLAYERS JOB. IT REQUIRES A ( TEAM ) OF PLAYERS TO WIN GAMES- PLAYOFFS AND TITLES, NOT A COACH. COACHES CALLS PLAYS, PLAYERS MAKE THE PLAYS HAPPEN.

[@alexmartin628]

2020 was a Disney, non-Ham championship.

[@dabneyoffermein595]

Frank Vogel's fake championship

[@user-rn9co7jc4t]

Look times a ticking for Mr. Pelinka, if this revolving door of head coaches is going to continue, ppl are gonna start talking about these trash rosters that his putting up or unless he can find a way to scapegoat LeBron that he has been the one making all these boneheaded moves since that championship in the bubble

[@theposterking3553]

Can you ask Bob Myers on tv if the Lakers offer him a job would he take it.An what would he would do this offseason with 3 first n lebron n ad. I dont want ty lue of Rob there. Clean house. They cant keep a kobe guy running lebron last years. Something isnt right. Bob myers has great relationships around nba

[@DJ-qi9hk]

Who keeps thinking that the Lakers were going to beat the T'Wolves or OKC? They would've been swept if either of those two teams played them.

[@abzda1700]

We did okc dirty this Season. We get beat by the kings every time they lose to the pelicans all the time and we beat the pelicans basketball is about matchups

[@DJ-qi9hk]

@@abzda1700 Regular season match-ups don't matter. Check the T'Wolves and Suns. T'Wolves, OKC, and Nuggets are just better teams.

[@Judgedsafe195]

Someone needs to call SA out for 90% of the bs he talks…where’s CJ McCollum

[@zepcrazyfre]

This coach made it to the playoffs twice…why fire him? Smh

[@user-om9bj4rc1g]

You actually have to win in the playoffs ?

[@ghostx4747]

​@user-om9bj4rc1g as a Lakers fan. The coaches ain't on the court. Sometimes players should take some responsibility.

[@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrother]

Yes, the Lakers made the playoffs in both of Ham’s two years, but if it wasn’t for the play-in games, Lakers wouldn’t have made it in.

[@zepcrazyfre]

@@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrother without LeBron and Davis the Lakers would be the Warriors;

[@denzelsherrod3226]

I honestly think the Lakers would have lost to any of the top 3 teams in the weste

[@hoopandhands3328]

Where does this belief that Ty Lue is some magical coaching genius come from? I don't understand it? If anyone is that, it's Erik Spolestra who's taken teams that didn't belong in the finals to the finals.

[@VaruunkaiSpy]

literally no one said he was? he is just far more competent than Ham

[@hoopandhands3328]

@@VaruunkaiSpy Whats the proof of that? Because he took a prime Lebron and Kyrie to the finals? He's done nothing since.

[@dawkinsco6298]

The T Wolves would've swept the Lakers too.

[@CJM23]

How can you say with a straight face that they could beat any other team besides Denver? They were 7 seed for a reason, they arent a good TEAM.

[@bullsfan2021]

SAS says he feels SORRY for Steve ballmer. Imagine feeling SORRY for a BILLIONARIE lol

[@Ostro1980]

Take the regular season more seriously and you won't be the damn #7 seed

[@411SPORTSWORLDNETWORK]

What about LeBron jumping up and down being for a replay? That lead to his demise

[@Jiynzo]

People havnt watched lakers, coach ham is awful at rotations,adjustments, lack of timeouts.. he had a 4 guard line up against nuggets in a playoff game.. seriously ??

[@lacydo]

He fired himself when he didnt challenged the call after Lebron told him to do so

[@iKingRev]

Why are you sad? His rotations were sus, his time out calls were sus and his plays sucked. Half the time the team wasn’t engaged with him and he spends most of the games with his hands in his pockets. He wasn’t a great coach. This is a very talented Lakers team that deserved a better coach. Thank you Darvin but he had to go. All of yall who say he’s gone because of AD and Lebron, YOU BARELY watched the lakers for the last two years. I don’t wanna hear it’s the players fault. There is no truth to that narrative.

[@WutTheDeuceGaming]

I saw LeBron hog the ball in the 4th quarter of a playoff game with a red hot AD getting TWO touches the entire 4th quarter. I ain't blaming the coach for that one.

[@iceman-hw7kb]

i knew dravin ham would be fired

[@jmab23]

Stephen a Smith Minnesota would have cooked the Lakers stop playing games and you need to apologize to the Minnesota Timberwolves. You skip Bayless everybody saying the Phoenix Suns were our worst matchup up for your wrong predictions and quit talking about the Lakers.

[@AtomicBaem27]

How good Russ looked 😆 🤣?!

[@maurice2245]

He didn’t deserve the job in the first place and he coached terrible you national analysts should seek information from those who covere the teams everyday before giving your opinions ,he’s still going to get his money don’t cry for him !!

[@raigan27]

wolves would sweep the lakers easy, antman would average 50 vs reeves and dlo

[@acetgif]

Why are ppl crying that Ham is gone? He had THE WORST ROTATIONS! Rotate him outta here

[@brucelau2023]

A new coach alone won’t fix or SAVE the Lakers at all Unfortunately

[@WutTheDeuceGaming]

Every time LeBron ducked teams in the regular season, the team won and had noticeable cohesion. They beat the Celtics and Bucks without LeBron just to name a couple. Ham was only part of their issues. When is the media gonna accept the fact LeBron James is part of their ongoing issues? This team has had 3 coaches in the 6 years he's been there. Something gotta give. The coaches have been different each time, but there's a constant here and that's LeBron James.

[@shadowghost1875]

AD need to be traded for a real tough center. He is too soft for L A

[@itsme3k]

LeBron is holding him back.

[@25lighters91]

Which is ANOTHER fireable offense by Ham...Forcing AD to be a center when he is not completely a center he just is talented enough to cover it, but he needs a true center, he had Mo Bamba and never seemed to play both of them at the same time allowing ad to be PF his true position

[@blizmo2]

Lakers should have lost that 1st game against the Pelicans to take the other route

[@TheLaundryGuy32]

They signed their own death warrant😂

[@BFick478]

I'm sad about this as well! He only lot to ONE TEAM and they competed in every game!

[@Coly426]

No Vanderbilt no Vincent no Christian wood dlo off and on no trust in Austin reeves no one is scared of him we don’t have real dogs

[@lacydo]

Ham should have tanked that New Orleans game

[@thaddeusmason4043]

Lakers cant do nothing with Minnesota duh

[@jodyboose5112]

Who ever thought they would beat everyone else is smoking! Lakers are not that good!

[@ricardoflores3548]

Stop crying for other rich people. He signed up, he knew who was on the team ,he knew the expectations, he couldn't do it.....unless maybe Denver decides to stop playing, then lucky LA could win if all the good teams simply quit so LA could win. Lol maybe the should've played h.s. teams to ensure a championship.