Lakers Rumors: Anthony Davis 'Was Not on Board Anymore' with Darvin Ham Before Firing

It appears there may have been some disconnect between Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis and head coach Darvin Ham prior to Ham's firing, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.

During a Friday appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Amick revealed that it was "pretty evident that AD was not on board anymore" with Ham (3:40 mark).

"When they chose to fire Darvin Ham, I was told that one of the many, many considerations was that it was pretty evident that AD was not on board anymore with Darvin and they know, like everybody else, that AD has a history of having asked for trades in the past. That's how he got to the Lakers from New Orleans. Last thing they wanted was for AD to be frustrated with the situation and maybe have those types of thoughts cross his mind."

The Lakers fired the head coach following a first-round defeat in five games against the Denver Nuggets in the 2024 playoffs.

Following a close 101-99 loss in Game 2 of the series, Davis told reporters that "we have stretches where we just don't know what we're doing on both ends of the floor."

When asked about the All-Star's comments, Ham didn't agree.

"I mean, I just think sometimes when plays don't turn out the way you think they should, then the frustration sets in a little bit," he said, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "But I don't think it's [from] us not being organized. I think I have incredibly talented coaches all along my staff."

"But I'll agree to disagree on that one," Ham added.

Davis signed a three-year extension worth $186 million with the Lakers in Aug. 2023, keeping him under contract through 2028. This includes a player option for the 2027-28 season.

After Los Angeles fired Ham, Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that the team is looking for a new coach who can "grow with the franchise for years to come" by "placing a premium on maximizing Davis' greatness."

With the nine-time All-Star set to remain a Laker for the foreseeable future, the front office appears to be focused on hiring a new coach that can stay on the same page as Davis.