Darvin Ham has been hired as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, according to several reports. On April 11, the day after the regular season finished, Los Angeles fired previous coach Frank Vogel.
Ham, 48, has been an assistant coach to Mike Budenholzer with the Bucks since 2018, and he won his first NBA championship as a coach during the 2020-21 season. After working as an assistant with the Lakers from 2011 to 2013, he is returning to Los Angeles. From 2013 until 2018, Ham worked as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks.
In recent days, Ham has made a name for himself in the process, talking with Lakers officials on Thursday and receiving an offer on Friday afternoon, according to sources. According to sources, the Lakers were impressed on Ham’s height and toughness, as well as his experience coaching great players and championship credentials as an assistant and player.
“So damn EXCITED!!!!!!!!” On Twitter, LeBron James expressed his thoughts. “Congrats and welcome Coach DHam!!”
From 1996 through 2005, Ham was a professional footballer. In 2004, Ham won an NBA championship as a member of the Detroit Pistons’ bench.
After a 33-49 season that cost Frank Vogel his job, Ham will coach tasked with leading the Lakers back to the playoffs. Finding a method to incorporate future Hall of Fame player Russell Westbrook into the franchise’s framework with LeBron James and Anthony Davis was one of Ham’s most crucial orders. According to insiders, it was a major topic throughout each of the Lakers’ coaching interviews.
Magic Johnson, a Hall of Famer and former Lakers vice president, stated on Monday that he would prefer a former player to be chosen as the team’s next coach.
Under Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, Ham has been a member of one of the league’s most successful coaching trees, which includes Memphis’ Taylor Jenkins, Utah’s Quin Snyder, and Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson. Ham worked with Budenholzer for nine years in Atlanta and Milwaukee, including winning the NBA championship together in 2021.
Ham spent eight seasons in the NBA, including one with the Detroit Pistons, where he won a championship in 2004.
Two of the three candidates, Ham and Terry Stotts, were interviewed by the Lakers this week, according to sources. The franchise leaders knew they’d found their coach after the Ham interview.
“I’m so happy for him,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo told, referring to Ham. “He’s the right fit for them. He keeps it real with you. No BS at all. It’s about damn time. He deserves it more than anyone.”
