A lot of people have wondered by Darvin Ham accepted the role of Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach under Doc Rivers after getting fired from the Los Angeles Lakers. A recent rumor, though, may potentially point to a reason that will shock everyone.
Ham’s coaching career has been marked by his ability to develop players and lead teams to success at the highest levels. In 2008, he joined the Albuquerque Thunderbirds as an assistant coach, later taking over as their head coach. In 2011, he began working as an assistant under Mike Brown with the Lakers, where he played a key role in player development.
Ham’s big break came in 2013 when he joined the Atlanta Hawks’ coaching staff. Over four consecutive playoff appearances, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015, he helped guide four Hawks starters to NBA All-Star selections and was instrumental in the growth of young players like Dennis Schroder and Taurean Prince.
In 2018, Ham followed former head coach Mike Budenholzer to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he was part of the coaching staff that led the team to its best record since 1972 and its first NBA championship in 50 years in 2021.
Ham’s success earned him a head coaching opportunity with the Lakers in 2022. Despite early struggles, he guided the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals in his first season and won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament in 2023. However, after failing to build on that success, he was dismissed in 2024.
Darvin Ham’s Shocking Reason for Taking Milwaukee Bucks Assistant Job
After being let go by the Lakers, Ham was then taken in as an assistant to Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. However, in an article posted on Dairyland Express by Cem Yolbulan, there’s allegedly a shocking reason Ham accepted the job.
“The Milwaukee Bucks recently hired Darvin Ham to join head coach Doc Rivers’ staff. After Rivers struggled as the new head coach following his mid-season hire, the Bucks brought Ham in as someone who is familiar with the organization and the team to be his lead assistant. Before joining the Lakers in 2022, Ham was an assistant in Milwaukee for four seasons, winning a championship.
The latest reporting suggests that Ham might have long-term plans in Milwaukee. Reporter Gery Woelfel said that Ham had interest from “several other teams” but chose to join the Bucks “with the assumption he’ll eventually succeed Doc Rivers as the Bucks HC,” Yolbulan wrote.
Ham spent four seasons with the Bucks as an assistant coach. With the Lakers, though, he had a record of 90 wins and 74 losses during the two years he coached the LeBron James-led team.
It remains to be seen whether Rivers will last long or Ham himself will dispel this specific rumor. In any case, it’d best to keep an eye on Milwaukee next season for any sign of tension in the team’s coaching staff.
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