Lakers officially hire Darvin Ham as new head coach.
The Lakers' new head coach, Darvin Ham, has won a championship in the NBA as a player and as an assistant coach. (David Dow / NBAE via Getty Images)
The Lakers' two-month head coach search has officially come to an end. It was first reported on May 27th from Athletics Shams Charania and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Lakers made their final decision to hire Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham. Today, the Lakers made it official, announcing it on all platforms, signing Ham to a four-year contract to be their next head coach.
Darvin Ham started his coaching journey as an assistant and head coach in the NBA D-League before becoming an assistant under Mike Brown with the very own Lakers from 2011 to 2013, with players like Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard on those rosters. Since then, he's worked under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta from 2014 to 2018 and in Milwaukee from 2019 to 2022, winning a championship in 2021.
"When someone begins his NBA coaching career at the G League level and goes all the way through playing an integral role on the front bench of an NBA Championship team, it really speaks to a certain strength of character," said Lakers general manager Rob Palinka on Ham.
Ham brings expert knowledge of basketball to the Lakers as a coach and a player, spending 11 seasons in the NBA, being a part of a championship Detroit Pistons team in 2004, where they beat the Kobe and Shaq-era Lakers.
"Our players and fans will immediately identify with Darvin's no-nonsense and hard-working approach, which we feel will bring toughness and a competitive edge to all we do." Palinka added, "When you add that to Darvin's sophisticated grasp of in-game strategy & deep knowledge of the game of basketball, we have the ideal coach for this next chapter in Lakers history. We could not be more honored & proud to name Darvin Ham as our new head coach."
The Lakers have appointed two first-time head coaches in the previous three coaching searches, hoping this first-time head coach is more successful than Luke Walton's stint for LA.
Although it will be Ham's first time in charge of a squad, he isn't wholly new to the head coach position. When Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer was in COVID-19 health and safety protocols this season, he momentarily took over the top slot, going 1–3 under Ham's interim leadership.
"I'm so happy for him. 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." Said Bucks star Giannis Antetokoumpo on Ham's departure to coach the Lakers.
The Lakers will hold an introductory press conference for new head coach Darvin Ham at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6, at the UCLA Health Training Center.