Lakers Next Coach Odds, Predictions: Who Will Replace Darvin Ham in Los Angeles?
After the Los Angeles Lakers fired Darvin Ham on Friday, we're breaking down the Lakers next coach odds from our best NBA betting sites with Mike Budenholzer as the early favorite.
What felt like an inevitability became a reality on Friday, when the Los Angeles Lakers fired Darvin Ham and the rest of his staff after two seasons at the helm. And all eyes are on his potential replacement.
Our best sports betting sites have already tabbed Mike Budenholzer as the early favorite to replace Ham, who coached as an assistant under Budenholzer for nine seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. He's one of the reported front-runners in the Lakers' search, according to The Athletic:
Here's a look at the Lakers next coach odds with implied probability via our odds converter, as well as our top NBA picks among the favorites:
Los Angeles Lakers next coach odds
(Odds from FanDuel Ontario)
| Coach | Odds | Implied probability |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Budenholzer | +320 | 23.81% |
| Kenny Atkinson | +420 | 19.23% |
| Tyronn Lue | +460 | 17.86% |
| Terry Stotts | +500 | 16.67% |
| JJ Redick | +550 | 15.38% |
| David Adelman | +750 | 11.76% |
| Becky Hammon | +800 | 11.11% |
| Phil Handy | +2400 | 4.00% |
| Rajon Rondo | +3400 | 2.86% |
| Frank Vogel | +6000 | 1.64% |
Odds only available for bettors in Ontario.
Favorites to be next Lakers coach
Mike Budenholzer (+320)
Budenholzer is the most accomplished coach on the open market, having twice won NBA Coach of the Year (2015, 2019) with a 484-317 record (.604) across 10 seasons with the Bucks and Hawks.
He also won a title with the Bucks in 2021, though his overall postseason record (56-48) remains a point of criticism for the veteran coach, whose teams were upset by a lower seed in four of his nine playoff appearances. He was often panned for his unwillingness to adjust mid-series - a familiar complaint for Lakers fans after two seasons with Ham.
Still, if Los Angeles is looking for a big swing on a high-pedigree coach, it's hard to do better than Budenholzer. That's why he opened as the betting favorite and is a shortlisted candidate based on early reporting on the Lakers' opening.
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Kenny Atkinson (+420)
Atkinson doesn't exactly have a flashy resume from his four seasons as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, posting a 118-190 record (.383) with just one playoff berth.
That said, the 56-year-old finished fifth in Coach of the Year voting in 2018-19 and remains among the most respected assistant coaches in the business. He's bided his time since getting the pink slip in Brooklyn, spending the last three years on the bench with the Golden State Warriors.
He's also on that aforementioned shortlist from The Athletic, which makes him an intriguing play at these +420 odds, which imply a 19.23% chance that he'd take over in Los Angeles. With a $10 bet returning $42 in profit, there are worse bets to make.
Tyronn Lue (+460)
Lue is one of the most respected coaches in the NBA, and the Los Angeles Clippers would seem foolish to dismiss him after their first-round exit. If they do, though, he'd be a quintessential fit for their crosstown rivals.
The former Cleveland Cavaliers coach has a longstanding relationship with LeBron James, and he's proven himself beyond his time with The King, too, even with superstar injuries plaguing his Clippers tenure. James has been effusive in his support for Lue over the years and could use that as leverage with free agency looming.
Lue was the Lakers' top target in 2019, per The Athletic, and the team would have "strong interest" if he becomes available. These +460 odds are a tough sell given that he's likely to stick with his current job, but if he doesn't, he should be the favorite for this one.
JJ Redick (+550)
Redick is easily the most intriguing name on this list, as the former 15-year NBA veteran has zero coaching experience and has spent the last few years cultivating his brand in the media space.
That includes launching the "Mind the Game" podcast with James less than two months ago, which certainly feels relevant as the Lakers attempt to keep the NBA's all-time scoring leader from leaving this offseason. It also feels like an implicit endorsement of Redick's basketball IQ in the eyes of Los Angeles' biggest star.
The obvious question is whether that translates into coaching acumen for the 39-year-old Redick, who is just six months older than James and has never served in any sort of coaching capacity. His name has also been floated as a candidate for the Charlotte Hornets, which could drive leverage for this job, too.
Related: LeBron James next team odds, prediction for 2024-25 season
Long shot to be next Lakers coach
Phil Handy (+2400)
At one point, Handy was the favorite to take over in the event of a Ham dismissal, and there have long been rumors that Los Angeles' players - including James - wanted the Lakers assistant to take over midseason.
While he's never been a head coach before, Handy has been an assistant in some capacity for 13 years, with nine of those coming alongside James in Cleveland and Los Angeles. He's also been vocal about wanting his shot as a head coach for years.
Could this finally be his time? That seemed more likely before he was relieved of his duties along with Ham and the rest of the staff, though it isn't impossible that the Lakers could turn to him as a backup option if they strike out on outside candidates.
That alone makes Hardy an interesting bet at +2400, which would pay $250 in total on a $10 ticket.
Lakers head coach FAQs
Who is the favorite to be the next Lakers coach?
Mike Budenholzer is the favorite to be the next Lakers coach with +320 odds, which represents an implied probability of 23.81% that he'll assume the vacant role in Los Angeles.
When will the Lakers hire their next head coach?
With the Lakers firing Ham on Friday in the midst of the NBA playoffs, there seemingly isn't a rush to fill the vacant role. That said, with the offseason around the corner, we can expect a hire to be made sometime this month.
When did the Lakers last win the NBA title?
The Lakers haven't won the NBA Finals since 2020, when Frank Vogel was the coach during the "bubble" postseason. That remains the only title run for this franchise since Phil Jackson led the Lakers to five championships between 2000 and 2010.
Los Angeles Lakers coaching history (since 1999-2000)
| Coach | Seasons | Record | Playoffs | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darvin Ham | 2022-24 | 90-74 (.549) | 9-12 (.429) | Zero |
| Frank Vogel | 2019-22 | 127-98 (.564) | 18-9 (.667) | One (2020) |
| Luke Walton | 2016-19 | 98-148 (.398) | 0-0 (.000) | Zero |
| Byron Scott | 2014-16 | 38-126 (.232) | 0-0 (.000) | Zero |
| Mike D'Antoni | 2012-14 | 67-87 (.435) | 0-4 (.000) | Zero |
| Bernie Bickerstaff | 2012-13 | 4-1 (.800) | 0-0 (.000) | Zero |
| Mike Brown | 2011-13 | 42-29 (.592) | 5-7 (.417) | Zero |
| Frank Hamblen | 2004-05 | 10-29 (.256) | 0-0 (.000) | Zero |
| Rudy Tomjanovich | 2004-05 | 24-19 (.558) | 0-0 (.000) | Zero |
| Phil Jackson | 1999-2011 | 610-292 (.676) | 118-63 (.652) | Five (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) |
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