The Los Angeles Lakers around superstar LeBron James entrust a debutant with the reboot after a disastrous NBA season. Darvin Ham returns to the Californians and receives a four-year contract.
For Ham, previously an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, it’s his first job as head coach.
While the Lakers have yet to confirm Ham’s signing – ESPN reported a four-year deal – James already took to Twitter to offer his congratulations. “I’m so freaking excited. Welcome, Coach DHam!” the 37-year-old wrote. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was Ham’s 2021 champion, said on ESPN: “I’m so happy for him. It was about damn time too, he deserves it more than anyone. He fits in with them. “
Lakers are not new territory for Ham
The 48-year-old Ham, a 2004 NBA champion as a pro with the Detroit Pistons, brings plenty of experience to the table. He had already worked as an assistant coach with the Lakers from 2011 and 2013, then in the same position with the Atlanta Hawks (2013 to 2018) and since then for the Bucks.
The Lakers had missed the current play-offs and subsequently parted ways with head coach Frank Vogel. Ham is said to have beaten Terry Stotts, the long-time coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Adrian Griffin (assistant with the Toronto Raptors) in the race for the successor in the shortest selection.
