Lakers Coach Could Follow Fate Of Spurs Mentor Who Had Shortest NBA Coaching Tenure

The working relationship between Darvin Ham and the Los Angeles Lakers may not last long unless the ballclub starts winning. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

KEY POINTS

Darvin Ham needs to find ways to win if he wants to keep his coaching job
Jerry Tarkanian holds the shortest tenure for any coach in the NBA with 20 games
The Lakers' freefall continues following latest loss to the Jazz

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to lose and the focus has been on the roster the team has for the 2022-23 NBA season.

However, first-year head coach Darvin Ham shares the attention of the franchise's dismal performance so far.

Although the manpower he has at his disposal leaves a lot to be desired, it remains that Lakers management was hoping to see the team perform better under his watch.

The Lakers just lost again to the Utah Jazz, 139-116, with LeBron James out due to a sore left foot.

This dropped them to 2-8 in the Western Conference standings, just half a game ahead of the Houston Rockets at the bottom.

It remains to be seen if the spiral of the Lakers will continue to be pinned on Russell Westbrook.

Ham was tasked to make the most out of the 33-year-old. So far, Westbrook has responded by averaging 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 29.5 minutes of action.

Although nothing has been mentioned, there is no telling how long the Lakers would keep the faith in Ham.

An NBA trade may not be enough to turn the ballclub's fortunes around.

Looking at the coaches who were given the chance to first coach in the pro ranks, the shortest-tenured coach was ironically a candidate to handle the Lakers in 1979–the late Jerry Tarkanian.

At the time, Tarkanian was offered the head coaching job by the Lakers.

He declined and opted to continue coaching in college.

The former UNLV Runnin' Rebels coach would instead accept a head coaching job offer with the San Antonio Spurs in 1992.

Tarkanian had a disagreement with Spurs owner Red McCombs at that time on having a veteran point guard.

San Antonio lost Rod Strickland to free agency, and the void was ultimately filled by Vinny Del Negro and Avery Johnson.

Aside from the squabble, the Spurs started the season with a woeful 9-11 win-loss record.

The Spurs ended up getting coached by Rex Hughes on an interim basis and later named John Lucas II as their head coach.

For the Lakers, the story may be different.

But if the win-loss record does not improve for them, Ham's seat could get even hotter with each passing day.