Darvin Ham Introduced as 28th Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach

Former Bucks Assistant Takes Charge of Historic Franchise

Los Angeles, California - Monday, May 23, 2022

The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Darvin Ham as their new head coach, making him the 28th coach in franchise history. The 48-year-old former Milwaukee Bucks assistant was introduced at a press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center on Monday afternoon.

Ham replaces Frank Vogel, who was fired after the Lakers' disappointing 33-49 record last season. Ham is a former NBA player who spent eight seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, and Detroit Pistons.

After his playing career, Ham transitioned to coaching and served as an assistant coach for the Lakers, Bucks, and Atlanta Hawks. He has a reputation for being a strong defensive coach, and he is expected to implement a tough, physical style of play in Los Angeles.

The Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in NBA history, but they have struggled in recent years. They have not won a championship since 2010, and they have not reached the playoffs since 2021.

Ham inherits a Lakers team that is in need of a rebuild. The team's roster is aging, and they have not been able to find a consistent identity on the court. Ham will need to make some tough decisions about the team's future, but he is confident that he can bring success back to Los Angeles.