While Ham speech says it's not a popularity contest, he contradicts himself

Taurean Prince is a good role player when used right, but the LA Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has been stubborn playing him from the start over Jarred Vanderbilt and even has given the wing too much playing time without being a difference maker on the court.

Prince's strength is his 3-point shooting, but he hasn't been that efficient and usually is the worst player in the starting lineup, also when Jarred Vanderbilt has been on the court alongside D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, the team has shown it's the best version, still, Ham has been adamant on using that five from the get-go this season.

Darvin Ham has been contradicting himself, as he constantly has been saying that is not a popularity contest but they look to players who are most effective in helping them to win, but the purple and gold coach keeps using Prince as a starter giving him 25-plus minutes.

With the recent loss to the Hawks, and LeBron James' recent tweet of an hourglass emoji, coach Darvin Ham needs to stir things up or his time with Los Angeles could end sooner than expected.

Jarred Vanderbilt believes the Lakers should have a defensive mindset from the start

In Jarred Vanderbilt’s mind, the Lakers’ issue is that they are not starting games with a locked-in defensive mindset, perhaps a signal to the coaching staff that he feels he should return to that starting lineup.