Report: LeBron James, Anthony Davis’ Opinions To Be Taken ‘Into Consideration’ In Lakers Head Coach Search

The Lakers fired Darvin Ham after two seasons. 

The Lakers have been linked to Tyronn Lue, JJ Redick, Kenny Atkinson, Mike Budenholzer and Charles Lee. 

According to NBA insiders Sam Amick and Law Murray of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Clippers will block the Lakers from talking to Lue, who won the 2016 championship with LeBron on the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The Clippers plan to pursue an extension with Lue.

“The Clippers know they can’t upgrade on Lue,” Amick and Murray wrote. “They didn’t extend him last offseason, though they guaranteed the last year of the five-year contract he signed in 2020 to succeed Doc Rivers as head coach.

“Other teams were blocked from talking to Lue. According to team sources, that would be the case again if teams attempt to pry him away this offseason. Lue has already been tied to the Lakers’ vacancy, and his stellar reputation as a title-winning coach means he’d likely be in the running for any job that becomes open.”

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. Los Angeles’ brass fired Ham and his entire coaching staff. 

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers. Most NBA insiders expect LeBron to return to the Lakers to continue his partnership with Davis. 

The leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists this season while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line. He turns 40 in December. 

Meanwhile, Davis averaged 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.3 blocks while shooting 55.6% overall, 27.1% from 3 and 81.6% from the foul line. 

LeBron and Davis have been teammates since 2019-20. The Lakers won the 2020 title, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, missed the 2022 playoffs, lost in the 2023 Western Conference Finals and lost in the first round of this year’s postseason.