The Milwaukee Bucks sent ripples through the NBA landscape on Monday by making an unexpected yet intriguing move: hiring Darvin Ham as Doc Rivers’ top assistant coach. This decision, a curveball to many, reintroduces Ham to the Bucks’ fold, albeit under a new regime.
Ham’s history with the Bucks is well-documented. He served as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer from 2018 to 2022, a period marked by significant success, including a championship run in 2021. However, the landscape has shifted dramatically since those days. Ham moved on to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, a tenure that lasted two seasons.
In Los Angeles, Ham’s journey was a roller coaster. His tenure saw a respectable 90-74 record, translating to a .549 win percentage. He guided the Lakers to the playoffs in both seasons, with a notable run to the Western Conference Finals in 2023. However, the 2024 first-round playoff exit, amidst the challenges of managing the roster, led to his dismissal.
Ham’s firing from the Lakers seemed less a reflection of his capabilities and more a product of the circumstances—an aging roster and heightened expectations. His return to the Bucks as an assistant coach speaks volumes about his reputation and the wealth of experience he brings, including those two pivotal years as a head coach.
