Darvin Ham was introduced as the 28th head coach in Los Angeles Lakers history in 2022.

Prior to being named the head coach of the Lakers, Ham sat at the hip of Milwaukee Bucks head coach, Mike Budenholzer, while developing a reputation as one of the most qualified assistants to make the leap to head coach.

Ham was an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks where he helped develop Giannis Antetokounmpo into a 2-time NBA MVP and helped guide the Bucks to the 2021 NBA Championship. Ham was also an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks where he helped the team reach the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. Prior to that, he served as an assistant with the Lakers where he worked with NBA stars, including Dwight Howard, Paul Gasol, and Kobe Bryant.

Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Ham had an 8-year NBA playing career despite going undrafted. He played for the Detroit Pistons – where he won an NBA Title in 2004 – as well as Atlanta, Milwaukee, Washington, Indiana, and Denver. As a player, Ham was an explosive athlete who went toe-to-toe with a young Kobe Bryant in the 1997 NBA dunk contest.

Ham grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, as an all-around athlete whose first love was football. He played college basketball at Texas Tech where he famously shattered the backboard in a game against North Carolina in 1996.

As a coach, Ham is known for his charismatic presence in the locker room, his toughness, and his ability to build meaningful relationships with players.