Lakers News: Struggling Darvin Ham Has Full Support From Ownership, Per Insider

One of the biggest talking points around the Los Angeles Lakers lately has been the status of second-year head coach Darvin Ham. He has come under fire after a report came out saying that there was a growing "disconnect" between Ham and the Lakers locker room.

Players have been frustrated with his ever-changing lineups and rotations, leading to the report. This started much speculation about whether he would be fired, especially given the team's state.

LA has been in a free fall since winning the In-Season Tournament a month ago, and they have dropped mightily in the Western Conference standings. However, a surprising win over the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers last weekend did stop the bleeding for a minute.

Even with all the noise, it seems that Ham will be staying around.

NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic is reporting that Ham has the backing of Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. The second-year head coach is here to stay, at least for now.

"But as he shared in a conversation with The Athletic, there’s a significant factor in play here that should not be forgotten: While Ham has issues to resolve both in his locker room and elsewhere within Laker Land, he has the continued support of owner Jeanie Buss."

Per Sam Amick via The Athletic

With Buss backing Ham, he isn't going anywhere. She could always change her mind if the team were to continue to lose games, but for now, he is safe.

The Lakers have rotated coaches a ton in recent years, so she likely is hesitant to make another move. But the pressure is certainly on Ham, and he needs to deliver results.

“'I know the situation,' said Ham, the former player whose first NBA coaching job came as an assistant with the Lakers from 2011 to 2013. 'I’ve been here before. I started here. So I understand the gravity of being with Kobe (Bryant), with (Milwaukee’s) Giannis (Antetokounmpo, whom he coached as an assistant from 2018 to 2022) and now with (LeBron), of what you’re fighting for. And I’m the same (as them).'"

Per Sam Amick via The Athletic

The Lakers are looking to get themselves out of this funk, and back to being one of the top teams. They are hoping that the win over the Clippers can start a winning streak, and all these distractions can be put behind them.