Lakers players were frustrated after Darvin Ham benched D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves throughout the season.
Darvin Ham’s decision to sit D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves during the season fueled Lakers players’ discontent, which was visible and understandable. As the team’s season came to a close, stories appeared of internal displeasure with Ham’s coaching decisions, adding to the pressure on him.
“The decision to bench both Reaves and Russell, the team’s consensus third- and fourth-best players, did not sit well with many within the organization and locker room, according to team and league sources.”
“Throughout the series and most of the season, however, team officials and players felt Ham’s erratic rotations, game planning, and lack of adjustments contributed to an underperforming team. It generated unrest in the locker room, which spread across the franchise.”
“Ham’s choice was perceived as a panic move that backfired, a departure from the team’s stated goals of developing reps and consistency with the core players and groups from the previous season. Instead, those lineups and groupings did not see as much action as they could have, even as bench or closing lineups.”
The decision to remove Reaves and Russell, two key members of the team, caused confusion and anger inside the company. Both players were regarded as major contributors, and their absence from the starting lineup sparked concern among colleagues and observers alike.
