“I’m not worried about LeBron; Ham has to do wonders with AD” Kendrick Perkins details how Darvin Ham should start holding Anthony Davis accountable
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Kendrick Perkins on Darvin Ham and tasks at his hand at Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers added Darvin Ham as their Head coach after the sacking of Frank Vogel. Having endured one of the worst ever seasons in franchise history, many have questioned the effect of Darvin Ham’s inclusion on LeBron James. However, Kendrick Perkins points out a more holistic picture and mainly focuses on Anthony Davis.
LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers are on early vacation as they couldn’t make it into the postseason. Arguably this could be one of the most disappointing performances by a title contender team in 2022. Adding more firepower to the championship-winning team didn’t help their cause and the team could manage only 33 wins and finished 11th in the West Conference. The front office did make quick adjustments in the offseason, replacing head coach Frank Vogel with Darvin Ham. Many people reacted positively to the move and started checking on the Darvin Ham-LeBron James connection. But Kendrick Perkins suggests that the coach would affect more on Anthony Davis more.
LeBron James performed brilliantly last season despite recurring injury scares, but it was Anthony Davis from the 2020 championship team, who failed to deliver this term and was mostly sidelined due to injury. Kendrick Perkins suggests that Coach Ham needs to work on Anthony Davis to make the Lakers better once again.
Darvin Ham can turn the tables around with Anthony Davis and LeBron James for LA Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers had a pretty decent team, with a lot of scoring options. Defensively they might be poor but could outscore opponents at will. Even though Vogel wasn’t that bad, he did not achieve a satisfying result. And for the Lakers, anything less than a championship should be a disappointment. Vogel did it in the 2020 NBA Finals and after 2 years he was in a bad light, which brings in new coach Darvin Ham.
As an assistant coach, Darvin Ham was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks championship-winning coach team. He worked closely with Giannis Antetokounmpo, a bit similar star to Anthony Davis. He will try to do the same with the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis.
Ham was an assistant coach at Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. He also has a lot of experience as an assistant coach, although this Lakers job will be his first as a head coach. The 48-year-old will have to lead the team with James, Davis, and Russell Westbrook. LeBron and Anthony had many injuries in the past 2 seasons and that affected Lakers’ productivity in the game.
Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA Champion, puts his faith in Ham and considers that he will be successful at the Lakers. 2004 NBA Champion Ham has earned a lot of respect for his tactics and training techniques. Perkins believes that he will hold players accountable for their actions and that players will respect him and listen to him.
Kendrick said, “If you could get a guy in there that these your superstars are going to respect and listen to, then all of a sudden you could get the best version of Anthony Davis. I’m not worried about LeBron James. See, Darvin Ham is going to do wonders with Anthony Davis. A former player that’s not afraid to be able to get in AD’s face, not afraid to hold AD accountable.”
He further added, “On the flip side of it, being able to speak that language in the locker room. I don’t think people realize how important that is to this new NBA. You have to be able to speak that language in the locker room.” Strong leadership quality in Ham would benefit 17-time NBA Champions Los Angeles Lakers, and if he could improve on Anthony Davis’s performance, it could be a long-term investment.
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Kunal Chawda
(600 Articles Published)