As the new NBA season begins, the Milwaukee Bucks are eager to regain their position as one of the top teams in the league. Last year, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, partly due to key injuries at a bad time.
With co-stars Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo still on the team, Milwaukee is feeling optimistic about their chances. This offseason, they brought back a familiar face to their coaching staff: former assistant coach Darvin Ham.
Ham was the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers for the past two seasons before being let go. He previously worked with the Bucks under former head coach Mike Budenholzer and helped them win the NBA title in 2021.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has a lot of respect for Ham, which influenced his decision to bring him back. Rivers defended Ham, saying that the Lakers’ choice to fire him “makes no sense.” “It’s been great.
First of all, he’s been here even longer than me. He knows things that I didn’t know. He has relationships with the players. Another guy that can trust. Trust is so important for players.
And more importantly, he deserves it. I’m not going to get into the whole thing that happened there, but he took a team to a Western Finals, and then the following year, he won the in-season tournament, which they say we should have a lot of value on, and then they release him.
It literally makes no sense, but it happens. It happens to all of us. It’s part of what we do. But Darvin Ham’s a coach, he should be on the sidelines, and I wanted him next to me.”
Ham had a mixed experience with the Lakers, leading them to the Western Conference Finals in his first year. However, some of his unusual rotations and lack of preparation led to his dismissal.
Now, back with the Bucks, Ham is focused on helping the team return to success. He knows that if he performs well, he could be considered for another head coaching position soon.
This season, the Bucks will face tough competition from teams like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference. It won’t be easy, but the Bucks believe they can come out on top this year.
