Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has opened up about Russell Westbrook. Ham and Westbrook didn’t see eye-to-eye at times during their time together in Los Angeles, but the current Milwaukee Bucks assistant has nothing but praise for the former NBA MVP.
In a recent appearance on the “Hoop Genius” podcast, Ham was asked about what it was like coaching Westbrook and having someone like him in the locker room. Despite having some issues, he has the utmost respect for the triple-double king for being a true professional.
“Russ is one of the most professional guys I’ve ever been around. He keeps himself in shape. That’s why he’s still playing. I think this is his 18th season at the position he plays. He stays at a very high level in terms of conditioning and constantly works on his craft. All of his teammates, wherever he’s played, always have nothing but the utmost respect and love for him,” Ham said, via HoopsHype.com.
Ham added that his job as the head coach was figuring out how to make a team work together as a group. However, he can’t control what goes on inside the locker room and how players develop chemistry on a personal level.
Lack of Supporting Cast Doomed Lakers Under Ham
In addition to Russell Westbrook, Darvin Ham also tackled his failure to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to more success outside an NBA Cup win. They made the Western Conference Finals in his first year as coach, but they were no match against eventual NBA champions Denver Nuggets in 2023.
Ham pointed out that the lack of role players doomed the Lakers from the start. The franchise had to let go of several important pieces from their 2020 championship team, like Alex Caruso, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, to bring in Westbrook.
“In order to get Russ on the Lakers, they had to part ways with Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma. … Now you’ve got to go after lower level players who, God bless…but to be elite to win a championship in our league, you have to be elite and have an elite group. And a lot of times, the financial constrictions won’t allow you to do so,” Ham said, via Pro Football & Sports Network.
Westbrook’s tenure with the Lakers ended midway through the 2023-24 season, when he was traded to the Utah Jazz. He was bought out by the Jazz and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Ham, on the other hand, survived through the end of the season but was fired and replaced by JJ Redick. He returned to the Milwaukee Bucks to serve as an assistant under Doc Rivers.
Westbrook Found His Way to Sacramento This Season
After one and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Russell Westbrook signed with the Denver Nuggets last season. Westbrook had tremendous chemistry with Nikola Jokic, unlocking the potential of the two former MVPs as teammates.
They reached the Western Conference Semifinals, losing to the eventual NBA champs Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. Westbrook had a player option, but he decided to opt out and become a free agent. He revealed to the Denver Post recently that the Nuggets told him to not exercise his option, so he obliged.
The former MVP was on the market until a week before the start of the regular season. He eventually signed with the Sacramento Kings and has looked fantastic alongside DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis.
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