Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal has expressed his belief that the limited coaching experience of the current head coach, Darvin Ham, is impacting the way star players LeBron James and Anthony Davis perceive him.
“What I know for a fact, in the locker room, resume is important,” O’Neal stated on the Big podcast, per Mike Battaglino of Lakers Daily. “You mean to tell me LeBron’s gonna listen to Darvin Ham in the thick of things? I know the answer to that. You think A.D. is gonna listen to Darvin Ham?
“You know all the other guys may listen to Darvin. That’s no disrespect to Darvin Ham, but no championship experience, no playoff experience. So, you know, if I’m a guy that been there, been to the title run a lot, why would I listen to a guy that hasn’t been there?”
O’Neal’s comments come in the wake of reports suggesting a disconnect between Ham and the locker room, potentially jeopardizing the coach’s job.
Ham, who assumed the role of Lakers head coach at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, led the team to the Western Conference Finals last year in his coaching debut. Despite clinching the NBA In-Season Tournament title this season, the Lakers have struggled recently, winning only 4 of their last 15 games.
