Los Angeles Lakers ended up hiring the Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who worked with him for four seasons, had nothing but praise for the former champion with the Detroit Pistons.
“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,” Giannis said to ESPN after the Lakers officially hired Ham.
Giannis was an All-Star in each of Ham’s four seasons, named the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year and named NBA MVP in both 2018 and 2019. Ham will seek to return the LA franchise back in the playoffs after a disastrous 33-49 season.
The Lakers liked Ham’s “championship pedigree, his commanding presence, history of coaching stars and toughness,” Wojnarowski reported. This assessment comes as no surprise, with Ham being part of the Milwaukee staff that led the team to the championship.
Ham will face many challenges as part of the Lakers’ brass, with the expectation being a quick resurgence in a very competitive Western Conference. The front office will need to re-tool the roster in order to return to the postseason.
“So damn EXCITED!!!!!!!! Congrats and welcome Coach DHam!!” James tweeted Friday night in response to the hiring. Ham played eight seasons in the NBA, winning a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
Ham was the preferred candidate over the former Blazers head coach Terry Stotts and the Warriors assistant coach and former Nets’ head coach Kenny Atkinson.
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