At least three people involved in the NBA Finals believe Darvin Ham was the correct coaching choice for the Lakers, according to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.
Warriors associate head coach Mike Brown, who will take over as head coach of the Kings once the season concludes, has known Ham since 1996, when Ham was a rookie for the Nuggets and Brown was a first-year staffer, Woike writes. Brown later gave Ham his first NBA coaching job as an assistant on his staff with the Lakers in 2011.
“Everyone is like, ‘He’s a rookie head coach, going in there to work for the Lakers with all those veterans,’ but don’t get it twisted,” Brown said. “I would like to see who would be the first to challenge Darvin or roll his eyes because he will stand his ground. And he will make sure his point gets across and gets across within an authority a situation like that may need.”
Like Ham, Draymond Green is a native of Saginaw, Michigan, and he said Ham was an inspiration to him growing up, per Woike. Green also said Ham will bring much-needed toughness to Los Angeles.
“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.”
Celtics big man Al Horford also praised Ham, who was on the Hawks’ coaching staff when Horford played in Atlanta, as Woike relays.
“We really got after it,” Horford said of Ham. “He really challenged me to be better on the defensive end. Really challenged me to just be a better player in general. Darvin is about as good a guy as you’re going to see, a big competitor. Extreme competitor. The Lakers are really lucky to have a guy like him. He’s the kind of guy that you want.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Ham’s greatest challenge as head coach will be figuring out the best way to utilize Russell Westbrook, writes Jovan Buha of The Athletic. With that in mind, Buha explores three ways the new coach can optimize Westbrook’s minutes, assuming he’s still on the roster in 2022/23. Buha also notes that Ham isn’t expected to address the media until early next week.
- L.A. is holding a workout with six draft prospects on Friday, tweets Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times. The six are Lucas Williamson (Loyola Chicago), Hyunjung Lee (Davidson), Paul Atkinson Jr. (Notre Dame), Scotty Pippen Jr. (Vanderbilt), Jamal Cain (Oakland), and Gaige Prim (Missouri State). According to ESPN’s big board, Pippen is the highest-rated among the group at No. 69, which makes sense, since the Lakers don’t currently hold any draft picks.
- In case you missed it, Ham was officially hired as head coach earlier today.
Lakers do a lot of things wrong but Darvin Ham was one they got right
The coach doesn’t matter if Pelinka is picking the players. Great GM to recruit FA but keep him away from the hot stove.
Jeanie needs to bring in someone who knows how to run a basketball team. Not a player agent.
LA recruits it’s self anyway, making Pelinka’s strength less valuable and his weaknesses more glaring.
@crypto
Oddly, that’s true and false at the same time. While it’s true LBJ chose LA and not the other way around, LA has had a tough time attracting FA in the last 10 years. LBJ early on, Wade, Bosh, Durant, Kawhi, PG, Mellow, wouldn’t even come and accept a meeting let alone sign with them. Same thing with the Knicks so you don’t think im hating. Both weren’t that attractive for a while. I wonder how many were put off by Kobes gruff demeanor and focus (no disrespect)?
What do you mean no disrespect. Kobe was a rapist, sure he’s dead but that doesn’t make him some kind of angel. Get over Kobe people he was a pos just like the rest of them. Only reason it never went to court is because the girl in Colorado was getting death threats and it made her sick. Kobe did pay her out of court though, that doesn’t say I’m innocent
Humpty Dumpty better worry about his own point getting across. All it took was one death stare from the Black Mamba and Brown was on his way to the EDD.
I will be thoroughly shocked if the lakers dump westbrook without giving up a future first.
Best way to use him is to let him come off the bench. Worked for Mello later in his career. Could do the same….if you can get Russ to buy in that starting isn’t best for the team. Which won’t be easy.
Best way to use Westbrick is in a trade.
With who and how without giving up a first…..exactly.
Miami should trade Robinson and Old man Lowry for Westbrook. Get off two bad deals.
Westbrook is a negative player why would the heat send out Lowry the better player?
Westbrook will be on the team. But I think he will see the light and try. The Lakers will rebound with Ham.
Highly doubt he’ll “see the light”, he’s too proud. Just is what it is.. I’m not a Russ hater either, I had a Russ jersey when everyone had KD jerseys lol.
How much can the lakers really rebound? Lebron was great this year but he’s going to be another year older and he’s already thinking about playing with his son the following year. Unibrow is injury prone so he probably won’t be much of a help. Considering all the depth the lakers gave up for Westbrook, their lack of draft picks, and their lack of money to sign free agents it’s most likely going to be another bad year for the lakers. Clippers are the relevant team in la
First of all, I’m glad 3 people involved in the NBA Finals approve of the Ham signing. If I were a Lakers fan that would make me feel better.
As far as Westbrook … unless he spends all summer in the gym working on his corner 3s and comes back with a renewed affection for playing team defense it’s hard to see what Ham will be able to do with him scheme-wise that Vogel didn’t.
He can getting them running a little more, tho they gotta get younger on the wing for that to happen
Tough to get out when banking on Guys like Ariza and Melo to run w ya
Play him at forward!!! Not bringing the ball up… Stay in and rebound. Everyone will be noting how Ham deals with RW right away. It will be hard to be tough if he’s not tough with RW.