The Milwaukee Bucks have confirmed that Darvin Ham will be joining Doc Rivers' coaching staff as the lead assistant coach, according to a team source. This marks Ham's return to the Bucks, where he established himself as one of the league's top assistants from 2018 to 2022. It was during Ham's previous stint with the team that the Bucks clinched their second NBA championship in 2021, their first title since 1971. ESPN was first to report the news of Ham reuniting with Milwaukee.

Ham, who is 50 years old, previously served as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers for the past two seasons. However, he was let go on May 3 after the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. Speculation surrounding Ham's potential firing grew throughout the season, and it seemed inevitable as the Lakers won only one game in their best-of-seven series against the Nuggets. The lowest point came when the Lakers squandered a 20-point second-half lead in Game 2.

During his time with the Lakers, Ham's coaching record stood at 90-74 in the regular season and 9-12 in the postseason. Prior to his tenure in Los Angeles, Ham served as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2018. He also had a successful playing career in the NBA from 1996 to 2005, winning an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

The Milwaukee Bucks finished the 2023-24 season with a 49-33 record. However, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers in six games. Unfortunately, the Bucks had to face this challenge without their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was sidelined with a calf injury throughout the Pacers series.

Despite the disappointing end to their season, the Bucks have made the playoffs for the past eight consecutive seasons. One of the highlights of this stretch was the 2021 championship year, when Ham served as the lead assistant coach under Mike Budenholzer's staff. Ham was highly regarded by the players during his time in Milwaukee, praised for his outgoing personality and willingness to hold players accountable when they fell short of the coaching staff's expectations.

During his tenure in Los Angeles, Ham maintained his connections with key Bucks players such as Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton. Although he declined an opportunity to reunite with his mentor, Budenholzer, in Phoenix earlier in the offseason, Ham now has a chance to continue growing as a coach under the guidance of Doc Rivers, a highly respected head coach.

Returning to Milwaukee offers Ham the opportunity to rebuild his reputation and potentially secure another head-coaching role in the future. With his proven track record as an assistant coach and experience with championship-caliber teams, Ham's addition to the Bucks' coaching staff brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team as they strive to build upon their recent successes.