The Los Angeles Lakers are hiring Darwin Hamm as head coach, a number of sources have confirmed to The Athletic. Los Angeles fired former coach Frank Vogel on April 11, the day after the end of the regular season.
The 48-year-old Hamm has worked for Bucks as Mike Budenholzer’s assistant since 2018, winning his first NBA title as a coach in the 2020-21 season. He is returning to Los Angeles after being an assistant to the Lakers from 2011 to 2013. Hamm was also an assistant coach to the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2018.
“So damn INVOLVED !!!!!!!!” wrote LeBron James on Twitter. “Congratulations and welcome, coach DHam !!”
Hamm’s career spanned from 1996 to 2005. Hamm also won the NBA Championship, coming off the bench for the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
Other finalists for the job were Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and former Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stots. The Lakers (33-49) finished 11th in the Western Conference, failing to reach the playoffs.
Hall of Fame and former Lakers vice president Magic Johnson said Monday that he wants the former player hired as the Lakers’ next coach.
“Probably except for Eric Spoelstra, all the other three in the final four are former players,” he told The Athletic. “So I think that says a lot about these young former players who command respect right away, who have done it before. I’m not saying you have to be a former player, but I’m saying you have to look at what’s going on.
“But the most important thing for me is accountability. They have to hold everyone, one to 15, accountable. And we got away with it. The boys never talked about it this season. It’s always someone else’s fault. I hated it. Never, “Hey, I played badly. Hey, it’s up to me. “So, whether he’s a former player or not, but the trend is former players. But if not, I want a coach who will hold everyone responsible. So, that’s what I’d like to see. “
(Photo: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)
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