Los Angeles Lakers rent Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham as subsequent head coach, sources say

Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham has agreed to a four-year deal to grow to be the subsequent coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, sources informed ESPN on Friday.

Ham separated himself within the course of in latest days, interviewing with Lakers officers Thursday and provoking a suggestion Friday afternoon, sources stated. The Lakers have been offered on Ham’s stature and toughness, his historical past of teaching star gamers and championship pedigree as an assistant and participant, sources stated. Ham’s historical past with the Lakers franchise for 2 seasons — 2011-2013 — performed an element in his hiring, too.

Ham shall be charged with returning the Lakers to the postseason after a disastrous 33-49 season that value Frank Vogel his job. One in all Ham’s most necessary directives: discovering a strategy to incorporate future Corridor of Fame guard Russell Westbrook into the franchise’s framework with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It was a big topic of each Lakers teaching interview within the course of, sources stated.

“So rattling EXCITED!!!!!!!! Congrats and welcome Coach DHam!!” James tweeted Friday night time in response to the hiring.

Ham has been part of one of many league’s most profitable teaching bushes underneath Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer — together with Memphis‘ Taylor Jenkins, Utah‘s Quin Snyder and Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson. Ham spent 9 seasons with Budenholzer in Atlanta and Milwaukee, together with successful the 2021 NBA championship collectively.

“I am so pleased for him,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo informed ESPN, referring to Ham. “He is the fitting match for them. He retains it actual with you. No BS in any respect. It is about rattling time. He deserves it greater than anybody.”

Ham performed eight seasons within the NBA, successful a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

The Lakers carried out interviews with two of the three finalists this week — Ham and Terry Stotts, sources stated. After the Ham interview, the franchise leaders knew they’d their coach.