Lakers Rumors: Kenny Atkinson, Terry Stotts, Darvin Ham Finalists for Head Coach Job

According to reports, the Los Angeles Lakers are close to hiring a new head coach.

The final round of interviews for the position were done by Darvin Ham and Terry Stotts.

Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson is also a finalist according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Los Angeles has a bright spotlight and the opportunity to coach one of the all-time greats in James.

With the King set to turn 38 in December, questions about whether Russell Westbrook will even be with the team to start the 2022-23 campaign, and concerns about Anthony Davis health, it will be challenging.

He was an assistant coach for the Lakers in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. He has been with Milwaukee for the past four years.

He is used to coaching one of the league's biggest stars in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he helped lead the Bucks to the 2020-2021 NBA title. He can fall back on his playing experience with the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Hawks, and Detroit Pistons if he is able to adjust to James.

Stotts has a lot of experience.

He was the head coach for Atlanta, Milwaukee and Portland and was an assistant coach for the Seattle SuperSonics, Hawks, Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks. He was fired by the Trail Blazers after the 2020-21 season even though they made the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons.

In the last three years, Portland has only advanced to the Western Conference Finals once, when it lost in a series to the Golden State Warriors in 2019.

Stotts is a playoff-tested veteran coach who helped establish the Trail Blazers as a contender.

After helping lead the Warriors to the Western Conference Finals, where they are up against the Dallas Mavericks, he is getting more playoff experience. He was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2019.

He made just one playoff appearance with the Nets, but stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were injured at times, and D'Angelo Russell was traded to Golden State.