Former head coach Darvin Ham nonetheless holds loads of bitterness towards the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ham — now an assistant coach with the Bucks — ripped L.A. earlier than serving to Milwaukee win its first NBA Cup on Tuesday night time.
“To do in addition to I did, I swear to God, wherever else I am in all probability taking a look at an extension for with what I did,” Ham instructed Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. “I am not speaking about emotions. I am speaking precise information. They go from not making it to the playoffs to the ultimate 4 within the NBA, the convention finals, And then you definately win the in-season match, navigate via all of the accidents and win each of your play-in video games to get to the playoffs.”
Ham grew to become the Lakers HC in 2022 after they fired Frank Vogel. In two seasons with the group, he posted a strong 90-74 regular-season file.
Nonetheless, he and small ahead LeBron James struggled to jell all through his tenure. He additionally could not beat the Denver Nuggets within the playoffs. After Denver eradicated L.A. from the postseason for a second straight season in 2024, the group canned Ham.
Regardless of his shortcomings towards Denver, Ham felt he overachieved when he guided the Lakers to the 2023 Western Convention Finals.
“Folks all the time discuss us dropping to Denver, however they by no means discuss how we acquired to Denver,” Ham mentioned. “We beat a kick-a– younger squad in Memphis, and we beat Golden State.”
JJ Redick changed Ham as Lakers HC in June. To this point, he hasn’t fared a lot better. The Lakers (14-12) are tenth within the Western Convention.
Ham appears to have some extent. The Lakers’ floundering means that he wasn’t the principle drawback. As an alternative of blaming its coach, L.A. ought to reevaluate whether or not it has constructed a championship-caliber roster.
