LOS ANGELES ( Associated Press) — The Los Angeles Lakers have made an offer to Darvin Ham to take over as their next coach, and the current Milwaukee Bucks assistant has accepted it, a source familiar with the decision said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been publicly announced.
Ham, 48, will serve as a coach in the NBA for the first time. He will be the 28th quarterback in Lakers history.
He had served since 2018 as an assistant to Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks coach, and collaborated in the campaign that ended with the conquest of the NBA title in 2021.
Ham replaces Frank Vogel, fired a day after the Lakers wrapped up one of the most disappointing seasons in NBA history, going 33-49 and out of a playoff spot.
The Los Angeles debacle came despite another impressive campaign from LeBron James, who welcomed his new coach on social media on Friday, even before the decision was announced.
“I’m freaking excited!!!” James tweeted. “Congratulations and welcome, Coach DHam.”
Ham was an assistant with Kobe Bryant’s Lakers from 2011-13. He then collaborated with coaches Mike Brown and Mike D’Antony.
He then served a five-year stint on the Atlanta Hawks’ staff.
Vogel guided the Lakers to the 17th title in franchise history exactly 18 months before his dismissal. He couldn’t have a successful season with a veteran roster led by James, an injury-prone Anthony Davis and a dismal Russell Westbrook in his first season with his hometown team.
Ham played part of nine seasons in the NBA. He won a title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, four years before retiring.
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