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Lakers News: Patrick Beverley Fires Major Shot at Former LA Coach Darvin Ham

Beverley wasn't long for L.A. Neither was Ham.
Alex Kirschenbaum|
Jan 30, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA: Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) knocks the ball away from Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley (21) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Jan 30, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA: Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) knocks the ball away from Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley (21) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Lakers

One-time Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley, a former All-Defensive Teamer during his heyday with the Houston Rockets and L.A. Clippers, wasn't long for the Lakers. Then again, neither was his head coach at the time.

After leading the LeBron James-Anthony Davis Lakers to a 90-74 regular season record and two playoff appearances (including a fluky run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals as a No. 7 seed), Darvin Ham was unceremoniously kicked to the curb by longtime L.A. vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka during the 2024 offseason.

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Pelinka replaced him with JJ Redick, who quickly modernized his team's offense, improved the club's defensive effort, built up talented young players, and boosted L.A.'s performance after timeouts. The Lakers then traded to acquire a player better than Davis or James were by the time Ham was coaching them, five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic. Now, L.A. is 39-21 and the Western Conference's No. 2 seed.

Just after the trade, Doncic had a rough shooting start during his first few games with Los Angeles, as he was just working his way back from a calf strain that cost him a month and a half of action. Fan account LakersSpin shredded Ham's reactive coaching (he had a predilection for swapping in defense-first vets at the first sign of trouble with younger, more talented players) with an incisive tweet.

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Beverley responded by retweeting and offering up a sly comment.

The X account of Beverley's Barstool Sports podcast, "The Pat Bev Pod With Rone," tweeted five laughing emojis. Beverley, in response, retweeted his own pod's reaction to his initial reaction.

During his 45 games as Los Angeles' pint-sized starting shooting guard in 2022-23 (he was dealt to the Orlando Magic midseason, negotiated a contract buyout and then signed a rest-of-year deal with his hometown Chicago Bulls), the 6-foot-2 Arkansas product averaged 6.4 points on .402/.348/.780 shooting splits, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks a night.

More Los Angeles Lakers:

Kyrie Irving Calls Out Steep Criticism of Luka Doncic Lakers Trade

Nuggets Forward Aaron Gordon Reveals Biggest Lesson He Learned from Lakers Great Kobe Bryant

Lakers Fans Call Out Darvin Ham Following Rise of Max Christie

For the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and notes, stay glued to Los Angeles Lakers On SI.

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Alex Kirschenbaum
ALEX KIRSCHENBAUM

Currently also a scribe for Newsweek, Hoops Rumors, The Sporting News and "Gremlins" director Joe Dante's film site Trailers From Hell, Alex is an alum of Men's Journal, Grizzlies fan site Grizzly Bear Blues, and Bulls fan sites Blog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain't Easy, among others.

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