Darvin Ham Defends Lakers Tenure After Dismissal

Darvin Ham, currently an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, has expressed his disappointment over not receiving an extension after his tenure as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite leading the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals and winning the inaugural NBA Cup, Ham was dismissed following a first-round playoff exit in 2024. He believes his record of 90-74 and the team's significant improvements warranted recognition, stating, 'To do as well as I did, I swear to God, anywhere else I'm probably looking at an extension.' Ham contends that much of the criticism he faced overlooked the challenges he managed, including injuries and roster imbalances. After recently winning another NBA Cup with the Bucks, he reiterated his belief that his coaching performance deserved more credit than it received at the Lakers. Ham noted, 'People always talk about us losing to Denver, but they never talk about how we got to Denver,' highlighting the team's journey through tough matchups.