Darvin Ham Returns to Milwaukee Bucks as Top Assistant to Doc Rivers

Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has rejoined the Milwaukee Bucks as their top assistant to Doc Rivers. Ham spent the past two seasons with Los Angeles, sporting a 90-74 regular season record, while taking the LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Co. to the Western Conference finals in his first season at the helm.

Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has rejoined the Milwaukee Bucks as their top assistant to Doc Rivers, according to a report by ESPN.

Ham spent the past two seasons with Los Angeles, sporting a 90-74 regular season record, while taking the LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Co. to the Western Conference finals in his first season at the helm. He was fired in May after the Lakers lost their matchup with the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2023-24 playoffs. The Nuggets also swept the Lakers in last year's Western Conference finals.

Ham, 50, returns to the place where he won the 2021 NBA Championship as an assistant to then-Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer. He had previous assistant coaching stops in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Ham was a sought-after assistant coaching candidate this spring, according to ESPN, but chose to reunite with Milwaukee and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo instead of rejoining with Budenholzer, who took over as the Phoenix Suns' head coach earlier this offseason.

The Bucks, who were limited by injuries to Antetokounmpo and co-star Damian Lillard, were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in six games in the first round of the playoffs.

Ham's return to Milwaukee is a significant addition to Rivers' staff. Ham is a respected coach with a proven track record of success. He is also familiar with the Bucks' system and players, having been a part of their championship run in 2021.

Ham's hiring is a sign that the Bucks are serious about contending for another NBA championship. With Antetokounmpo leading the way, and Ham providing guidance from the sidelines, the Bucks are poised to make a deep run in the playoffs next season.

Here are some additional details about Ham's coaching career:

* Ham began his coaching career as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks in 2011.

* He spent three seasons with the Hawks before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014.

* Ham spent seven seasons with the Lakers, serving as an assistant coach under Mike D'Antoni, Luke Walton, and Frank Vogel.

* He was named the Lakers' head coach in 2022.

* Ham was fired by the Lakers in May 2023 after two seasons.

* He has a career regular season record of 90-74.

* Ham won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.