The Los Angeles Lakers will shortly enter a new era, having fired head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons. It means the Lakers will have to hire someone to fill the position, and the incoming coach will be the ninth since Phil Jackson’s retirement after the 2010-11 season.
Ham went 90-74 as coach, bringing Los Angeles to the playoffs in both of his seasons (including the Western Conference Finals in 2022-23). However, the Lakers were eliminated in a five-game first-round series by the Denver Nuggets this year, necessitating a change in leadership. The burning question today is, who will be the next Lakers coach?
According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers are “taking their time” during the early phases of their coaching search. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers are “holding internal meetings this week to establish their hiring priorities.”
Stein named assistant coaches such as Golden State’s Kenny Atkinson and Denver’s David Adelman as potential candidates for Los Angeles, although his report stated the team hasn’t yet requested permission to interview any current assistants at this time.
It seems clear what the Lakers could be looking for, though, per Woike.
“In conversations with sources over the last few days, there’s a strong sense the Lakers are putting a premium on experience in this search—following trends where the Lakers have course-corrected from one decision by doing a version of the opposite,” Woike wrote.
When Los Angeles hired Ham in June 2022, he had never previously served as an NBA head coach. It’s understandable that the Lakers would prefer a more seasoned captain this time around, especially with a team that may include veterans like Anthony Davis, LeBron James (if he returns), and others. That is why Atkinson should become the next head coach in Los Angeles.
Atkinson already has four seasons of NBA head coaching experience, having guided the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020. He went 118-190 over that period and only led the team to one playoff appearance (a first-round exit in the 2018-19 season), but he understands the position better than some other possibilities. Since leaving the Nets, Atkinson has worked as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers (2020-21) and the Golden State Warriors (2021-present). The 56-year-old is now an NBA champion after the Warriors won the league title at the end of the 2021-22 season.
It must have been beneficial for Atkinson to teach under Steve Kerr, who has had tremendous success with Golden State. Atkinson should use some of that expertise to improve his chances of becoming a head coach again. Perhaps it will happen with the Lakers beginning in 2024-25 season. Atkinson appears to suit the profile of what the team is seeking for, and he could be a terrific fit. Los Angeles should give Atkinson another chance because his style could help the team return to championship contention.
