BREAKING: Darvin Ham, Texas Tech Ex, Hired to Coach LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are a difficult coaching job for any seasoned and respected veteran coach. Much less a former player with very little head coaching experience at any level.
But that's the situation former Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball standout Darvin Ham is faced with, as he is now "the guy,'' with Woj reporting that Ham is taking over the Lakers.
Ham was a gritty player with a strong attitude who played for six different NBA teams and several minor-league teams over the course of 13 seasons after leaving Texas Tech in 1996. He has served as an assistant in the NBA for the Lakers, Hawks, and Bucks.
It takes a strong personality to lead other strong personalities, and that's why Ham was an attractive hire for the Lakers according to The Athletic:
In terms of the Lakers’ preferences, sources say team officials have prioritized a coach who can command respect and authority from the locker room and who has a strong enough presence and voice to manage the varying roles and relationships across the roster. Those characteristics bode well for Ham’s candidacy. Throughout assistant coaching stops with the Lakers, Hawks and Bucks, Ham has been known for his no-nonsense style and ability to resonate with his players — attributes that have stood out in his communication with the Lakers thus far as well, sources said.
But maybe the most important thing going for Ham as he is the next coach in Los Angeles is ... he's the guy LeBron James wants, per Bleacher Report.
General Manager Rob Pelinka had the final decision, but if Ham's the guy James wants, Lakers brass obviously listened.
Ham played in 90 games for the Red Raiders from 1993 to 1996, and averaged 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and gained national attention by shattering the backboard on a slam dunk during the 1996 NCAA Tournament against UNC.