Tag: Darvin Ham

Warriors’ Draymond Green praises Lakers’ hire of Darvin Ham

Draymond Green took some time out from getting ready for the NBA Finals to talk about Darvin Ham becoming the Lakers’ new head coach.

While the basketball world is focused on the NBA Finals, a series that features the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to hire Darvin Ham has flown under the radar.

Many around the league feel he is a sound hire for L.A., although they also know that he won’t be able to do much with its roster unless it is upgraded.

Draymond Green, one of the most important players for the Warriors, is from the same hometown as Ham – Saginaw, Mich.

Ham is about 16 years older than Green, and the latter looked up to the former growing up in the same small Midwestern town.

It’s for that reason Green has strong feelings about Ham finally getting to be a head coach in the NBA, especially in the context of paying it forward to the next generation.

Green also told Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Lakers about how specifically Ham is going to help the Lakers next season, regardless of what their roster looks like.

Via Los Angeles Times:

“I think he’s going to bring a toughness, a blue-collar mentality just because that’s how he’s built. That’s how he’s raised. You have to be that way from Saginaw,” Green told The Times. “I think it’ll be a different toughness that they haven’t seen. And he’s going to command and require a different respect level that they haven’t really have had. … And I think that will bode well for that team.”

Some speculated that the Lakers would opt for an experienced head coach, such as Doc Rivers or Mark Jackson, in order to make sure the players would buy in.

Instead, they’re going with a newbie, albeit one who has been universally praised by insiders for his communication and leadership skills.

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Happy Darvin Ham was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston’s Jaylen Brown says ‘I don’t understand what took so long’

With the hire, a majority-Black league has 15 of 30 Black coaches for the first time.

In a professional sports league where the majority of players are people of color, the hiring of Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham to be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers helped push the NBA to have 15 of their 30 head coaching positions occupied by Black men, Ham’s hire one of eight such around the league to hit this new, important mark for the league.

But for Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown, it isn’t just something to be happy about, the fact that it took more than three-quarters of a century to happen is something that sheds light on wider systemic issues that transcend basketball. Brown was asked his thoughts about the Ham hire at NBA Finals Media Day on Wednesday, and the Georgia native had plenty to say in this vein.

“If you ask me, I don’t understand what took so long,” he suggested.

Charles Barkley: Lakers will continue to struggle under Darvin Ham

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley feels that new Lakers coach Darvin Ham won’t improve how well they perform next season.

Many people around the NBA are happy for Darvin Ham now that he will become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and feel he is the right man for the job.

But there is only so much a head coach can do to solve a team’s problems, and the Lakers’ problems all have to do with their roster.

They have arguably the best duo in the game, but they don’t have a ton outside of that in terms of viable supporting players.

As a result, NBA Hall of Famer and “Inside the NBA” personality Charles Barkley feels L.A. will struggle again next season.

Via Lakers Daily:

“However, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley seems to think the hire isn’t going to move the needle for L.A. He recently explained his thinking.

“‘Well I’m glad Darvin got an opportunity ’cause he’s paid his dues,’ Barkley said. ‘He’s a nice guy. We’ll have to see what kind of coach he is. But listen, if one of your coaches is close to the same age as your players, your team not gonna be any good anyway. The Lakers, they got a serious dilemma on their hands. Their best player’s gonna be 40. Anthony Davis has never been healthy. Obviously, Russ (Russell Westbrook) is gonna be there one more year, so what’s really bad about the situation — next year is gonna be the same as this year. And then LeBron [James] just gonna be a year older, and then they’ll have Russ off the books.'”

Westbrook has been rumored to be on the move, but recent reports suggest the Lakers may hold onto him for one more season, if for no other reason that the fact that potential trade partners are playing hardball with them.

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Although he is an awkward fit, Westbrook is still a very good player who closed this season strong, and perhaps Ham will be able to use him successfully alongside the ball-dominant James.

Make no mistake – this is a very big offseason for the Lakers. But they have already apparently taken a step forward by hiring Ham.

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Draymond Green celebrates Lakers coaching hire Darvin Ham: ‘For me, this is everything’

Draymond Green and Darvin Ham went to the same high school.

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly hired Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham as their next head coach, and the decision has so many people applauding it.

Lakers superstar LeBron James tweeted about how excited he is to work with Ham, who coached Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks. After the hire, Antetokounmpo also praised Ham, saying that the former assistant deserves the position “more than anyone” else.

Another person happy with the decision is Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. Ham and Green are both from Saginaw, Michigan and they attended the same public Saginaw High School — which currently has an enrollment of fewer than 600 people.

The town has a population of fewer than 50,000 people — which makes it 14 times smaller than nearby Detroit. Yet it has produced notable NBA players, including Ham and Green, as well as two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson.

This is what Green said on his podcast about Ham’s influence on their shared hometown:

“Ultimately, what you’re looking for is hope. That’s the thing that gets lost when you come from a place like Saginaw and you don’t see much outside of that world and you only see what Saginaw has to offer. What you lose first is you lose hope … When Darvin Ham won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons, it gave me hope that I could do that too.”

You can watch the full clip from his podcast by clicking below:

Green called the hiring decision “groundbreaking” because it shows just how much is possible for people from Saginaw to accomplish.

During the segment, Green also added that attending Ham’s basketball camps as a kid made him believe that he could play in the NBA. Additionally, now that Ham is a head coach, it makes Green believe that he could one day be an NBA head coach.

Back when Ham won a title as an assistant with the Bucks last year, Green also celebrated on Twitter, and he clearly has a ton of respect for a man who he views as a trailblazer.

This is not to say Green would leave the Warriors to play for Ham on the Lakers when he becomes a free agent in 2024. But he does share an agent from Klutch Sports with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Talen Horton-Tucker.

Perhaps, once his own playing career is over, maybe Green would have some interest in eventually serving on Ham’s bench as an assistant coach. Green is not sure if he wants to coach, but with his mind for the game, I think that he would excel in such a position.

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This picture of a rookie Stephen Curry and Celtics coach Ime Udoka rocks so much

Where does the time go?

Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.

Forgive me for doing an impression of NBA legend Bill Walton, but I’m about to quote the Grateful Dead: “Where does the time go?”

When he begins competing for his fourth NBA championship later this week, Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry will face the Celtics, who are coached by Ime Udoka.

Believe it or not, back when he was a rookie, Curry faced off against Udoka on the court. It was a long time ago when the current Boston coach played for the Kings. Take a look for yourself:

Isn’t that crazy? Curry has always looked young, but it’s a trip seeing him in those old uniforms as a rookie over a dozen years ago. You can watch some highlights of the game here.

For what it is worth, when facing Curry as a player, Udoka had four wins and two losses.

The Tip-Off

(AP Photo/Matt Kelley, File)

While you were enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend, the Lakers found a replacement for Frank Vogel. Just like that, a new regime has begun for the Purple and Gold.

Here is what our own Mike Sykes had to say about the hiring decision:

“It’s been a long time coming for Darvin Ham, but he’s finally arrived. He’s got his first head coaching job and it’s coming with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now, getting here was definitely a bit weird. We knew Ham was emerging as the favorite for the job last week. But then the Lakers actually dumped the news on us ahead of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in an all-time NBA Friday news dump.

But, regardless of the path it took to get here, we’re here. Ham is the new head coach in LA and that definitely feels a bit out of left-field for the Lakers, who generally hire candidates they’ve got a long history with. But Ham actually does have a bit of Lakers history — it’s just not that well known.”

Allow him to tell you everything you need to know about the new man in charge of the premier basketball franchise in Los Angeles.

Who’s in and out?

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

— Gary Payton II (elbow) and Otto Porter Jr. (foot) are questionable

Shootaround

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

— Trevor Keels and the top stay-or-go college decisions in the NBA Draft

— How Joe Johnson (you read that right!) could win his first NBA ring with the Celtics

— How the Celtics achieved the impossible and reached the NBA Finals

— HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan previews the Heat offseason, discussing Tyler Herro’s extension and more

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Kurt Rambis will not be regular presence in Darvin Ham’s meetings

Unlike he did with former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis may back off and give new coach Darvin Ham space.

One of the criticisms directed at the Los Angeles Lakers has been the meddlesome manner in which the front office runs the team.

Some of that criticism surrounds Kurt Rambis, who is L.A.’s senior basketball adviser.

This season, he reportedly sat in on Frank Vogel’s coaching meetings, and he reportedly insisted on deciding who the team’s coaching candidates could hire to be their assistants in 2019.

But perhaps Rambis and the rest of the front office are starting to learn from their mistakes.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Rambis will not be sitting in on new head coach Darvin Ham’s meetings.

Via The Stein Line:

“According to the buzz in NBA coaching circles over the weekend, Ham has likewise been promised the autonomy to pick his coaching staff and is said to have received assurances that Lakers senior advisor Kurt Rambis will not be a regular presence in coaching meetings like he was with Vogel. If those promises come to fruition and Ham actually receives all that latitude, they will rank as significant concessions secured by a first-time NBA head coach.”

The fact Rambis will reportedly back off despite the fact Ham has never been an NBA head coach before seems to speak to how impressed the Lakers were with him during interviews.

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Metta Sandiford-Artest on what Lakers can expect from Darvin Ham

Metta Sandiford-Artest, who played for new Lakers coach Darvin Ham several years ago, talks about what L.A. can expect from him.

After a disastrous 2021-22 season, the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans are feeling a bit of hope now that it has been reported the team has hired Darvin Ham to be its next head coach.

Ham is regarded around the league as a strong communicator, a solid leader and someone who has a firm grasp of the strategic aspect of basketball.

He has been an assistant coach for several years, most recently with the Milwaukee Bucks over the last four seasons. But he started his coaching career with the Lakers in the 2011-12 season, when Metta World Peace (now Metta Sandiford-Artest) was still wearing the Purple and Gold.

Sandiford-Artest talked about what the Lakers can expect from their new bench leader.

Via Lakers Daily:

“Sandiford-Artest explained to the Los Angeles Times how Ham always has his players’ best interests at heart, which will certainly be important for the Lakers in the 2022-23 season.

“‘He was working hard, working all the players out, worked me out,’ Sandiford-Artest said regarding the impact Ham made as a Lakers assistant many years ago. ‘He worked out everybody. He was involved heavy and was very direct; very, very direct, which I really loved.’

“‘… He definitely understands modern basketball. He also is capable of communicating in a way where you can receive it the right way. He’s definitely a presence, but he also has a communication about him that is, I’m not going to say soft, but you understand that he has your best interest at heart.'”

Sandiford-Artest isn’t the only one who has worked with Ham who is predicting good things for him and the Lakers.

Chauncey Billups, who played with Ham on the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons, also sung his praises after he was hired by L.A.

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Chauncey Billups speaks glowingly of new Lakers coach Darvin Ham

Chauncey Billups, a former teammate of Darvin Ham, had nice things to say about him after he was hired by the Lakers as head coach.

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly hired Darvin Ham to be their next head coach, and it has seemingly restored a bit of credibility to a franchise that appears to have a tarnished reputation.

L.A. was expected to compete for the NBA championship this season after trading for Russell Westbrook last summer. Instead, it didn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament.

Former head coach Frank Vogel became the first casualty of the Lakers’ terrible season. He was fired after their last regular-season game.

But many around the league feel Ham is the right man for the job, and one of them is a former teammate.

Via Lakers Daily:

“Chauncey Billups, another former player, also chimed in on the hire. The current Portland Trail Blazers head coach expressed excitement for Ham.

“‘He’s going to be honest as a coach of the Lakers, which is what I think you need in the NBA today — somebody that’s going to be honest but know how to be honest without actually just tearing you down,’ Billups said to the Los Angeles Times. ‘What can you say? He’s won as a player. He’s won as a coach. I mean, this dude is more than qualified for the task at hand. I’m so happy and proud of him. I spoke to him last night, and he was so excited.’

“Billups also stated that Ham is the right man for the job.

“‘He’s ready for this job. He’s the right guy for this Lakers job,’ Billups said.”

Billups and Ham played together for the 2004 Detroit Pistons, a team that defeated the Lakers in the NBA Finals to win the world championship.

Billups, who was named the Finals MVP that year, became the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers this season, succeeding Terry Stotts, who was one of the Lakers’ other candidates for their vacancy.

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New Lakers coach Darvin Ham will be given autonomy to hire own staff

The Lakers may not encroach on some of new head coach Darvin Ham’s decisions as much as some thought they might.

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly hired Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham to be their new head coach.

It is a very encouraging hire, especially given his strong communication skills and command of the strategic aspect of NBA basketball.

But there is another encouraging aspect of this hire — according to reports, Ham will be given the freedom to choose who will be on his staff.

This was reportedly a sticking point in 2019, the last time L.A. went coach shopping. Back then, Ty Lue and Monty Williams, who now coach the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns, respectively, said no to the Lakers partly because senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis wanted to dictate who they could hire to be their assistants.

That will apparently not be the case with Ham.

Via Los Angeles Times:

“According to sources with knowledge of the process, Ham will be given a large amount of autonomy, including the ability to choose his own coaching staff,” wrote Dan Woike and Broderick Turner. “He’s expected to meet with current Lakers staff members next week.”

In addition, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Ham, who will become a first-time head coach, is planning on hiring at least one assistant who has been a head coach before.

The Lakers have a great deal of work to do if they are to return to the elite level of the NBA next season. But the first domino has fallen, and it is an important one that can at least somewhat restore their credibility.

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Darvin Ham impressed the Lakers, especially with his tactical acumen

New Lakers head coach Darvin Ham made an outstanding impression on the team.

After the Los Angeles Lakers had the most disappointing and disastrous season in their storied history, they made a move on Friday that has seemed to restore a bit of credibility and even hope for the embattled organization.

They hired Darvin Ham to be their next head coach.

Yes, Ham has never been a head coach in the NBA, but he has been an assistant coach for more than a decade.

He won a world championship while serving under Mike Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, and he started his coaching career with the Lakers in 2012.

Before that, he was an NBA player for eight seasons. Coincidentally, he earned a ring as a player with the 2004 Detroit Pistons, who beat a dissolving Lakers squad in the finals.

There is something about Ham that reportedly impressed L.A. a great deal and led to it offering him a four-year deal.

Via The Athletic:

“Those who know Ham say he has an unteachable presence about him,” wrote Bill Oram. “He can hold players accountable. And not just role players. Stars, too. He understands locker room dynamics with eight years in the NBA as a player. He won a ring as Mike Budenholzer’s favorite assistant in Milwaukee.

“In other words, he’s got juice.

“And sources said he blew the Lakers away with his understanding of X’s and O’s.”

Via Los Angeles Times:

“Ham impressed the Lakers with his ability to communicate and hold people accountable, according to sources, a crucial element in their search to replace Vogel,” wrote Dan Woike and Broderick Turner.

Yes, the Lakers need someone who is good with the X’s and O’s, as they struggled this season not just defensively, but also offensively.

But they also needed a powerful and constructive voice, a captain who can help execute a coherent vision of how they may return to the basketball mountaintop while contributing something to that vision himself.

The outgoing Frank Vogel had solid leadership skills and is a very positive soul. But certain members of the team started to tune him out, which is often a death knell for coaches in any team sport, especially the pro level.

Now, the Lakers can move forward and work on retooling their roster, which won’t be easy. But at least the stench that emanated from the team this season seems to be abating a bit.

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