The NBA lockout might still be underway and the NBA could be the verge of canceling the entire 2011-12 regular season, but that hasn't stopped new head coach Mike Brown and the Los Angeles Lakers from making moves to improve the coaching staff. The latest addition Mike Brown and company made to the Lakers coaching staff was hiring former NBA player and NBA D-League head coach Darvin Ham as an assistant coach.
New Lakers head coach Mike Brown commented on the recent addition of Darvin Ham to the coaching staff:
“I’m very happy to have Darvin join our coaching staff,” said Mike Brown. “ I’ve known Darvin since his rookie year in Denver and have watched him make the transition from player to coach. He has put in the hard work that is necessary to have success at this level and I look forward to having him on our staff.”
Last season Darvin Ham served as the head coach of the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA D-League. Before last season, Ham was an assistant coach for the Thunderbirds for two years (2008-2010). During his time in the NBA, Ham played eight years for six different teams (Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons) and played four years overseas and in the NBA D-League.
Even though Darvin Ham didn't have much success as a player in the NBA, the 8-year veteran did win a championship with the Detroit Pistons (against the Los Angeles Lakers) in 2004.
This is a questionable move by Mike Brown and GM Mitch Kupchak with Darvin Ham having limited experience coaching, but the team seems to be confident they have found the right man to fill out the coaching staff that includes John Kuester, Chuck Person (only assistant left from Phil Jackson's crew), Quin Snyder and Italian import Ettore Messina.
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