Rob Pelinka: Darvin Ham was the unanimous choice for Lakers new head coach

Ryan Ward: Rob Pelinka calls Darvin Ham their “unanimous choice” for the Lakers new head coach.
Source: Twitter @RyanWardLA

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Darvin Ham on returning to the Lakers: “This place will always be special to me. … It’s like a homecoming for me in all seriousness.” – 3:13 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Darvin Ham got emotional when talking about Mike Budenholzer, with whom he’s been an assistant since 2013. He noted to Bud, who hired him to Atlanta from the Lakers: “At least you’re dropping me off where you picked me up.” – 3:13 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
Darvin Ham on working with VP of bball ops Rob Pelinka: “We gonna collaborate, communicate and also make sure we demonstrate.” – 3:09 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Darvin Ham choked up briefly while mentioning that leaving Mike Budenholzer’s staff. It’s obvious he has a lot of respect, admiration and affection for that time with Bud. AK – 3:09 PM

Mike Bresnahan @Mike_Bresnahan
Darvin Ham introductory press conference has begun on @SpectrumSN
“This is an incredibly bright and promising day in Lakers history,” Rob Pelinka said to start it off. pic.twitter.com/Yn6UkZxnGH – 3:09 PM

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
Darvin Ham on being the Lakers coach: “It’s like coming back home.” – 3:08 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Darvin Ham aces an early test, name-checking all the Buss family members sitting in the front row of the press conference. – 3:08 PM

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
Russell Westbrook was all smiles as he walked behind Darvin Ham onto the Lakers practice court for Ham’s introductory press conference. – 3:07 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Darvin Ham is here. General manager Rob Pelinka says Ham was the “unanimous choice” of the franchise for their next head coach, citing his experience and character. pic.twitter.com/XicbjFExsl – 3:07 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Rob Pelinka calls Darvin Ham their “unanimous choice” for the Lakers new head coach. – 3:06 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Rob Pelinka described Darvin Ham as “the ideal fit” for what the Lakers are looking for in a coach. Noted how Ham “earned his stripes” by starting out as a coach and GM at the G League level. AK – 3:06 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/K22WIWxNyf – 3:05 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers introduce Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/rcx4Fl8FKB – 3:05 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Darvin Ham presser is officially underway… pic.twitter.com/rrgFlEk2nH – 3:05 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
A quick roll call of Lakers players at Darvin Ham’s introductory press conference: So far have only spotted Stanley Johnson – 3:02 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Just ahead of the Darvin Ham’s introductory presser with the Lakers, Frank Vogel’s name shows up for the first time in odds for another job, via @betonline_ag: pic.twitter.com/hezK9nsGt0 – 3:00 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
We’re getting set for Darvin Ham’s official introduction as head coach of the Lakers in about 20 minutes. Stay tuned for updates. – 2:43 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Darvin Ham introductory press conference starts at 12 pm today pic.twitter.com/GY0t0vIVwS – 2:20 PM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Awesome set up for todays broadcast…Lakers will introduce Darvin Ham as new head coach at Noon pic.twitter.com/l8O60J0erS – 12:30 PM

The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
Rasheed Wallace is joining the Lakers coaching staff as an assistant coach under new head coach Darvin Ham, per @Shams Charania.
Both were teammates in Detroit and part of the 2004 title team. pic.twitter.com/pyqirwyDSV – 11:57 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Monday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! Ahead of Darvin Ham’s introductory presser today, we discuss what we’re most interested to learn from him and Rob Pelinka. Plus, how can Austin Reaves continue developing? #FirstListen @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dar… – 11:56 AM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Sources: Four-time NBA All-Star Rasheed Wallace has agreed on a deal to be an assistant coach for the Lakers under new head coach Darvin Ham. Both were teammates in Detroit and part of the 2004 title team. Memphis‘ Penny Hardaway hinted today Wallace may join Ham in LA. – 11:45 AM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Penny Hardaway says Rasheed Wallace ‘might’ join Lakers coaching staff under Darvin Ham
cbssports.com/nba/news/penny… – 11:00 AM

Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Press Conference Monday in the NBA just got even newsier: Utah will hold a session tomorrow with new owner Ryan Smith, new CEO Danny Ainge and outgoing coach Quin Snyder … adding to previously scheduled press conferences for Miami’s Pat Riley and new Lakers coach Darvin Ham. – 9:52 PM

Dan Favale @danfavale
quin snyder making this decision after darvin ham and, seemingly, kenny atkinson are off the board is low-key diabolical – 5:38 PM

More on this storyline

 

Jovan Buha: Rob Pelinka: “This is an incredibly bright and promising day in Lakers history.” -via Twitter @jovanbuha / June 6, 2022

The most interesting thing I’ve heard while we wait for Ham’s official introduction is that, according to the latest buzz in league coaching circles, Michigan’s Juwan Howard was the Lakers’ preferred candidate among the various coaches to whom they were linked who were under contract elsewhere and thus ultimately unavailable — ahead of Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers and Utah’s Quin Snyder. -via marcstein.substack.com / June 3, 2022

The Lakers, I’m told, made such strong overtures to Howard that the implication was clear: The job was his if he wanted it. As covered here on May 2, Howard made it clear in turn throughout the Lakers’ 47-day search that — despite his long associations with both James and Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka — he had no interest in leaving behind the college game at Michigan and the opportunity to coach sons Jace and Jett next season. -via marcstein.substack.com / June 3, 2022