Michael Wilbon slams LeBron James for Darvin Ham firing: ‘Take accountability’

As the Los Angeles Lakers enter the offseason, the franchise faces no shortage of uncertainty with LeBron James possessing the ability to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.

One thing we do know, however, is that the Lakers will be in the market for a new head coach, with the franchise firing Darvin Ham following two seasons with the team.

That clearly doesn’t sit well with Michael Wilbon.

On Friday’s episode of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption , Wilbon and co-host Frank Isola discussed Ham’s firing , which came after the Lakers were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in five games in their first-round matchup in the NBA Playoffs. But while many considered Ham’s firing to be a formality following two underwhelming seasons in Los Angeles, the former Washington Post columnist took issue with James for what he viewed as a lack of accountability from the 4-time MVP.

“You know what? I’m angry. I’ve known Darvin Ham for a long time,” Wilbon said. “He’s a great guy. And he’s a pretty damn good coach. Because he took a team that had done nothing the year before, missed the playoffs, and then last year they got to the conference finals with him and everybody had praise for him, including LeBron and Anthony Davis.

“They blame him now. Their public comments are inadequate. Let me say this: If you want to be the GOAT, you want to tell everybody you’re the greatest player of all time, you want to have it on podcasts, then take accountability like one. Do that!… if you’re the GOAT, you do that. You don’t blame this cryptically or backhandedly on Darvin Ham. I don’t want to hear from anybody in a Laker uniform that the primary problem was Darvin Ham. “Yes, LeBron and Anthony Davis were great in that series, but they weren’t good enough against Denver, so take that on. GOAT carries responsibility. I don’t see it.”

Over the course of his 21-year NBA career, James has become no stranger to criticism when it comes to his perceived passive aggressiveness in dealing with coaches and teammates. Nevertheless, the 4-time MVP is largely considered one of the two best players in NBA history alongside Michael Jordan, with both his ability and longevity creating a resume that’s unmatched.

How much should James’ behavior when it comes to dealing with team personnel factor into that conversation? That’s up for each person to decide. But at this point, it’s pretty clear where Wilbon stands on the matter.

[ESPN, H/T New York Post ]

The post Michael Wilbon slams LeBron James for Darvin Ham firing: ‘Take accountability’ appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions .