Los Angeles Lakers hire Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham as next head coach, sources say

Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham has agreed to a four-year deal to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN on Friday.

Ham separated himself in the process in recent days, interviewing with Lakers officials on Thursday and inspiring an offer on Friday afternoon, sources said. The Lakers were sold on Ham’s stature and toughness, his history of coaching star players, championship pedigree as an assistant and player, sources said. Ham’s history with the Lakers franchise for two years — 2011-13 — played a part in his hiring, too.

Ham will be charged with returning these Lakers to the postseason after a disastrous 33-49 season that cost Frank Vogel his job. One of Ham’s most important directives: Finding a way to incorporate future Hall of Fame guard Russell Westbrook into the franchise’s framework with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It was a significant subject of every Lakers coaching interview in the process, sources said.

Ham has been a part of one of the league’s most successful coaching trees under Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer — including Memphis‘ Taylor Jenkins, Utah‘s Quin Snyder and Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson. Ham spent nine seasons with Budenholzer in Atlanta and Milwaukee, including winning the 2021 NBA championship together.

Ham played eight seasons in the NBA, winning a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2014.

The Lakers conducted interviews with two of the three finalists this week — Ham and Terry Stotts, sources said. After the Ham interview, the franchise knew they had their coach.

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