Darvin Ham may soon be back as a frontman.
The Milwaukee Bucks lead assistant coach Ham has emerged as a candidate for the head coaching job of the New Orleans Pelicans, NBA writer Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reported this week. Ham is reportedly viewed as a “strong motivator” as the Pelicans look to find a new full-time head coach.
New Orleans fired head coach Willie Green last November after a 2-10 start to the season. Assistant coach James Borrego then took over as the interim head coach of the Pelicans.
However, Borrego has gone just 24-44 (.353) during his time in charge of New Orleans. As such, Robinson adds that the Pelicans are “unlikely” to hire Borrego as their full-time coach after the season.
Ham, 52, served as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers for two seasons from 2022-24, leading the team to a Western Conference Finals berth in 2023 and an NBA Cup victory later that year as well. After Ham was fired by the Lakers with an overall record of 90-74 (.549), he joined the Bucks as the lead assistant under their head coach Doc Rivers.
There was some talk that Ham could potentially be the successor to Rivers in Milwaukee. But with the Bucks in the middle of a dysfunctional 31-49 season, they may opt to start anew and bring in a new head coach from outside the organization (perhaps this veteran name who was recently linked to the job). That would leave Ham free to pursue opportunities elsewhere, including the head coaching job in New Orleans.
