Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham has finally opened up about his dismissal from the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of last season. Ham spoke candidly, expressing the belief that the Lakers made significant progress under his leadership and saying he poured his “heart and soul” into the team’s development during his tenure.

“The state of the team when they hired me, up until the day they fired me, I like to think it improved. And that’s all I care about,” Ham told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on Thursday.

“I poured myself, my heart and soul, into that team trying to improve it from where it was – 33-49.”

Darvin Ham was appointed head coach of the Lakers in 2022 but was let go by the team after their first-round playoff exit in 2024. During his tenure, Ham led the Lakers to 90 wins in 164 regular-season games.

Despite his dismissal, Ham chose to focus on the positives, highlighting the team’s run to the Western Conference Finals in his first season and winning the In-Season Tournament in his second season, which was hampered by injuries to key rotational players.

“To get to the Western Conference finals in one year, have guys benefit from it financially,” Ham continued. “To have that excitement going into that next year, get derailed by injuries, still manage to win the in-season tournament and get to the playoffs, I thank God every day.”

“Some people have certain opinions and those are opinions, but if you really look at the facts, there’s not much for me personally I have to say. So, that’s it.”

Darvin Ham holds no hard feelings toward the Lakers

Darvin Ham expressed his gratitude to the Lakers for the opportunity to lead such a storied franchise. Now an assistant coach for the Bucks, he emphasized that he holds no hard feelings toward the Lakers and wishes the team success in the future.

“Again, I’m completely grateful. I wish that franchise nothing but the best,” Ham said. “I’m not mean or angry or bitter about anything.

Ham’s first remarks on his firing from the Lakers came after Bucks head coach Doc Rivers criticized the Western Conference franchise for their decision. Rivers called Ham’s tenure a success and said the firing “made no sense.”

The Lakers replaced Darvin Ham with former NBA player JJ Redick, who has no prior coaching experience at the professional level.