Darvin Ham has done a fine job with the Los Angeles Lakers, who are set to play in the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers after a dismal season last year fired head coach Frank Vogel. The former head coach, after delivering the NBA title failed to replicate the same. However ever since the appointment of Ham as the headcoach, the Lakers are looking like a much better team.
The Los Angeles Lakers have appointed Darvin Ham as their new head coach for next season.
Ham was an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks and joins the Lakers on a four year deal. pic.twitter.com/vJ1DnYggoZ
— Jullian Sardana (@JullianSardana) May 28, 2022
Initially, the Lakers had a rough start, barely managing to stay in the Play-in spots. However, after deciding to trade in motivated role players instead of veteran players. The head coach has turned their season around. The job came with enormous pressure, however, Ham’s personality stems from a single life-changing incident.
Darvin Ham got shot in the face when he was just 14 year’s old
Two months in to the job at the Lakers, Ham sat down for an episode of ALL THE SMOKE. There he opened up about an event that changed his life. “Got shot 14 years old April 5th 1988,” Ham started. It is no coincidence, that Ham is producing results in his first season as a head coach in the NBA. If Ham is able to win an NBA titles with the Lakers, he would become the 10th coach to do so in his debut season.
“So we out in the streets, mom and dad at the house, sent me and my older brother Duran to go get a pizza….So, we go get the pizza but we forgot the soda, so we stopped at this place called Al’s Market. We get the soda, get out of there,“he said. “They start clapping just hitting shots right? So I turned and looked toward the shots. And that’s when I got hit. If I’d just ducked or tried to lean over, I wouldn’t be sitting here in front of you all right now.” Ham continued.
#Saginaw native Darvin Ham talking about dealing with the pressure of becoming the Lakers head coach
“I grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. I was shot in the face by accident April 5th, 1988… it made me fearless. I don’t feel no pressure; it’s basketball.”
📽️: Spectrum Sports Net pic.twitter.com/1VmrwRGes0
— Brandon Green🍀 (@BGreenReports) June 6, 2022
“The fact that I turned and looked toward the shots, it ricocheted off my jaw, and they took it out the left side of my neck. I was in the hospital for about 11 days,” Ham added. Ham is one of the most respectable personalities in the league. With a humble and happy personality, there have been life changing moments for him. Joining the Lakers is a pretty big step up. It comes with a whole lot of pressure, however, Ham has done a pretty good job.
