In search of a coach since the dismissal of Frank Vogel last April, following a disastrous season ended without qualification in the play-offs, the Lakers chose Darvin Ham. The information was revealed by ESPN journalist Adrian Wojnarowski.
Although he does not yet have experience as a head coach, Ham has built a solid career as an assistant in the NBA for the past ten years. Passed by the bench of the Lakers (2011-2013) then the Atlanta Hawks (2013-2018), where he was Mike Budenholzer’s assistant, he had followed him to Milwaukee, where he had been officiating since 2018. He notably participated at the crowning of the Bucks in 2021. At 48, Ham will try to bring the Lakers back to the play-offs, after a sad 11th place in the West this season.
If the franchise has not yet formalized the appointment of Darvin Ham, Lebron James hastened to react on Twitter. The four-time NBA champion said to himself “so excited” at the idea of rubbing shoulders with the new coach of the Lakers.
Before switching to coaching, Ham played eight seasons in the NBA, in a duty winger role (417 games between 1996 and 2005, 2.7 points on average), winning the 2004 NBA championship title with Detroit. against the LA Lakers. He is also famous for smashing a basket on a dunk during the 1996 NCAA tournament with Texas Tech.
