The Golden State Warriors have talked to former Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham about a role as an assistant on Steve Kerr‘s coaching staff, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
But that seems like a long shot for the time being.
“(T)he Warriors are contemplating a coaching staff addition regardless of whether the Cavaliers hire (Kenny Atkinson), which would follow the Mike Brown and Jama Mahlalela departures in recent years and the tragic loss of Dejan Milojević this past January,” Slater wrote. “The Warriors had some conversation with former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham in recent weeks, per league sources. That isn’t expected to materialize.
“But it is a signal of the Warriors’ desire to add a big-name assistant, and indications are they are in search of either a former head coach or former player to fill the role.”
Slater went on to note that, should Atkinson leave, the Warriors could hire two assistants.
Meanwhile, Ham is expected to wait and see what might develop during the offseason. It is believed he is seeking another head-coaching job — though his name has yet to surface in relation to other vacancies.
In Ham’s two seasons, the Lakers went 90-74. They were swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, then lost to them again in five games in the first round this year.
He began his coaching career with the Lakers as an assistant in the 2011-12 season, before spending his next nine seasons under coach Mike Budenholzer, first with the Atlanta Hawks and then with the Milwaukee Bucks, winning a championship in 2021.
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