Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
HoopsHype

Russell Westbrook attending Darvin Ham introductory press conference

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Lakers coach Darvin Ham on Russell Westbrook: “Don’t get it messed up. Russ is one of the best players our league has ever seen. There’s still a ton left in that tank. I don’t know why people tend to try to write him off.” pic.twitter.com/LEctWsCBmo3:19 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Darvin Ham says of the future of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook: It starts out on the defensive end and builds out there. He thinks all three will benefit from increased spacing. Says he sees Westbrook as “absolutely” a key part of the future. – 3:17 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham: “The sweet jump shot, the no look passes, that wasn’t a part of my game. (I was a) blue collar contributor. It prepares you, creates a certain type of mentality to where you don’t want to cut any corners. Understand what the details are.” – 3:17 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Darvin Ham on Russell Westbrook: “Russ is one of the best players our league has ever seen.” – 3:17 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Darvin Ham says that he wants to run a four-out, one-in offense, and that the success of the LeBron/AD/Russ trio will start on the defensive end first.
He said one of his sayings is “facts over feelings” and that he plans on holding the stars as accountable as the role players. – 3:16 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Darvin Ham says he’ll be implementing a four-out, one-in offense. AK – 3:16 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Darvin Ham: “Everything has to be a team effort. Together, competitive and accountable.” – 3:16 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Darvin Ham says that he doesn’t view himself as an offensive-minded or defensive-minded coach. He wants to be well-rounded and believes that both sides of the floor play into each other. – 3:14 PM
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
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Russell Westbrook, Austin Reaves and Wenyen Gabriel pic.twitter.com/FQBLQRsxSU3:13 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
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Among the Lakers in the gym for Darvin Harm’s introductory press conference today: Russell Westbrook and Stanley Johnson. – 3:11 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
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Russell Westbrook, Austin Reaves and Wenyen Gabriel are among the players present for the press conference today. – 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/Yn6UkZxnGH3:09 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/XicbjFExsl3:07 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/K22WIWxNyf3:05 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers introduce Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/rcx4Fl8FKB3:05 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Darvin Ham presser is officially underway… pic.twitter.com/rrgFlEk2nH3:05 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/hezK9nsGt03:00 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/GY0t0vIVwS2:20 PM
Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Awesome set up for todays broadcast…Lakers will introduce Darvin Ham as new head coach at Noon pic.twitter.com/l8O60J0erS12:30 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/pyqirwyDSV11:57 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
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Now that Darvin Ham is officially the Lakers’ new head coach, one of his first tasks is figuring out how to get more out of Russell Westbrook (if the Lakers keep him).
Here are three things he could try that might improve the Westbrook fit: theathletic.com/3346849/2022/0…5:34 PM

More on this storyline

In a recent appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Athletic’s Bill Oram thinks there’s some logic behind a hypothetical Westbrook-for-Irving trade. “I don’t think it’s nuts. I don’t know that it’s going to happen, but from a logical standpoint it makes sense. From a logical standpoint, the Nets are absolutely sick of the Kyrie Irving experience. The Lakers are sick of the Russell Westbrook experience. That said, the Nets know they have the better player and the better asset despite all of his idiosyncrasies.” -via Sports Illustrated / June 6, 2022
As far as how this might work financially, that part gets a bit more tricky. Per our salary-cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the only real way for the Lakers to successfully sign-and-trade for Zach LaVine is if Russell Westbrook is included in the deal, or he is salary dumped beforehand. This is because sign-and-trading for a free agency like LaVine would subject the Lakers to the $156 million hard cap, which the Lakers would need to stay below with at least 14 players. By replacing Westbrook’s $47.1 million amount with LaVine’s projected $36.6 million starting salary, they can still fill out the rest of the roster around him, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the players currently under contract. -via HoopsHype / May 31, 2022

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.