(Image Source: Reuters)
[Saba Sports News] During the Los Angeles Lakers’ notable 127-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, a third-quarter incident involving Austin Reaves and coach Darvin Ham caught attention. Reaves seemed to disregard Ham, who was attempting to praise him for a successful play.
Reaves had just executed a steal from Tim Hardaway Jr. and assisted Taurean Prince for a layup, increasing the Lakers’ lead. However, he bypassed Ham, choosing instead to celebrate with Prince and an assistant coach, but not with the head coach. This raised questions about Reaves’ relationship with Ham.
Reaves, typically a starter, had been benched for a significant part of the 2023-24 season, only recently returning to the starting lineup. Whether this change contributed to any tension is unclear. Reaves has stated that he prioritizes team success over personal roles, and he hasn’t publicly criticized Ham despite the team’s struggles during his benching.
The video of Reaves ignoring Ham spread rapidly among Lakers fans, sparking speculation about potential discord. Some fans expressed frustration with Ham’s decisions, including Reaves’ benching in favor of Cam Reddish.
Adding to the speculation, NBA insider Shams Charania reported a growing rift between Ham and the Lakers players, attributed to frequent changes in rotations and starting lineups. This has reportedly hindered team cohesion on the court.
Despite these challenges, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss continues to support Ham, though the durability of this support remains a question.
In the game in question, Reaves contributed 14 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal. Despite expectations for a more significant leap in performance this season, there’s talk of trading him, which the Lakers are reportedly not considering.