The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a shocking 115-114 loss to Indiana Tuesday night, doomed by a four-point play with 3.4 seconds left. The Pacers were jubilant. Bucks fans were stunned. Doc Rivers was disgusted, calling Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winner a play “that should never happen.”
A breakdown, snafu, one that got away. No one saw it coming.
No one, apparently, except for Darvin Ham.
Courtesy of Darvin Ham, Milwaukee Bucks Heartbreaker Vs Indiana Pacers Is Also Causing Tears of Hilarity
As Haliburton launched, falling away in the left corner with Giannis Antetokounmpo crowding his space, the whole arena watched the ball’s flight.
Pacers fans watched with tense, tentative hope. Bucks fans willed a miss. Rivers observed Haliburton’s release with apprehension. A few mouths formed O’s in the stands.
Everyone watched attentively. Everyone but Darvin Ham.
Hands stuffed in pockets, staring off into the distance, an expression of resigned knowing on his lips, Ham had seen this show before. His eyes, perhaps, just barely, drifted upward in the play’s direction.
The shot went in, a whistle blew, the arena erupted like a multitude of geysers. Replay review confirmed that Haliburton had stayed in bounds on the shot, he sank his free throw, and Giannis missed the buzzer three.
After the excitement subsided–how many games feature a 4-point game-winner?–what rose from the dust and rubble of the Bucks’ crushing defeat was the shot of Ham on social media, frozen in stoic bystanding.
One can only imagine the fun fans had at Ham’s expense. For those who haven’t seen it, here is the photo:
This photo is frying me bro lmaooo I know yall see it too pic.twitter.com/0zexVO16Vm
— 🎭 (@MaskedInLA) March 12, 2025
A Familiar Scene for Lakers Fans
Some found the picture so perfect it demanded artistic reproduction:
Dawg I had to remix it pic.twitter.com/tp4g3t7I8v
— zinzy°🐻 (@itz_zinzy) March 12, 2025
— KurlyChris (@KurlyChrisTV) March 12, 2025
— Kel F. (@TheKelFrancisco) March 12, 2025
In his two years as head coach of the Lakers, a hands-pocketed Ham on the sidelines became a familiar sight. After being fired following the 2023-24 season, he rejoined the Bucks as top assistant coach, having spent four years before, from 2018-2021, in Milwaukee.
Commenters paid homage to the well-known image of the much-maligned former Lakers HC:
Someone said “darvin ham still has his hands in his pockets” 😂😂😂
— jackson blaze (@jacksonblaze888) March 12, 2025
Coach Pockets! pic.twitter.com/naJtxnXy1M
— God Ghost Writer 👁🗨 (@kingchudy) March 12, 2025
Standing 6’7, Ham played for both teams on the court Tuesday during his 9-year NBA career as a backup forward for the Pacers, Nuggets, Wizards, Bucks and Pistons. Technically, he clocked into only one game as a Pacer, for five minutes during his rookie year out of Texas Tech.
Between the 1999-00 and ’01-02 seasons, Ham logged 134 games for Milwaukee, peaking at 5.1 points and 4.9 rebounds his first year there.
Since his days coaching the Lakers, who went 90-74 and reached a conference finals with Ham at the helm, the fallout from last night may be the most fame he has had. His sedated demeanor is nothing new. He just had the misfortune of being caught in a hilarious pose when all the cameraman wanted was to capture the dramatic shot.
Bucks fans can expect to see Ham on the sidelines again when Milwaukee hosts his former team, Los Angeles, on Thursday night.
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