7 Lakers head coach candidates to replace Darvin Ham

1. Mike Budenholzer

The Bucks fired coach Bud after a disappointing first-round playoff exit in 2023, but it was not his fault. Giannis Antetokounmpo played just ten minutes in Game 1 and did not return till Game 4. It was like Milwaukee forgot they annually had one of the best regular season records in the league and won the championship in 2021. Bud was out and failed to find a new job last summer.

Budenholzer has been a head coach for ten years, and his 60.4 winning percentage is the 22nd-best in NBA history. He coached his teams to nine playoff appearances, three conference finals, and one championship. There is no questioning Bud’s success, but how would he handle the bright lights in Hollywood?

Budenholzer was Darvin Ham’s mentor. They coached together for a decade before Ham joined the Lakers in the 2022 offseason. Firing a coach and hiring his teacher seems like a bad idea, but Budenholzer is the only championship head coach available. If the Lakers want a history of success, he is their top option.

Will the Los Angeles Lakers fire Darvin Ham? Who replaces him? Does LeBron James get the final say or does the franchise make the decision? There will be plenty of drama in Lakerland this summer, so stay tuned for all the latest.