As the Milwaukee Bucks suffered a surprising 115-102 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, the scrutiny on new Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham only intensified. Lakers fans, still stinging from Ham’s failed tenure as their head coach last season, took to social media to mock the former Lakers coach for overplaying veteran wing Taurean Prince.
Following his dismissal as the Lakers head coach in May after just one season, Darvin Ham joined the Bucks this offseason as Doc Rivers’ lead assistant. But his reappearance on the sidelines has reignited the anger of Lakers fans, who felt Ham mismanaged his rotation and failed to maximize the talent on the roster.
During the Bucks’ loss to the Nets, Prince played a team-high 34 minutes, narrowly edging out superstar teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo (33 minutes) and Damian Lillard (32 minutes). Prince’s limited impact—3 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers on 25% shooting—only fueled the Lakers fans’ criticism.
“Darvin Ham took Taurean Prince with him and now has him playing more minutes than Giannis and Dame, LMAO,” tweeted @LakeShowYo, while @dgsire bluntly stated, “Darvin Ham is so unserious.”
Ham’s coaching decisions, particularly his apparent preference for Prince in the starting lineup over more promising young talents like Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, frequently took the blame for the Lakers’ struggles last season, which saw them miss the playoffs despite the presence of superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Now, as Ham tries to build a winning culture in Milwaukee, he faces the added challenge of overcoming the perception that he is unable to properly manage his rotations and get the most out of his players.
In the short term, the Bucks may have to rely more on Prince due to the absence of injured star Khris Middleton. However, the team will need to find the right balance to ensure their supporting cast can complement the brilliance of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
As the Lakers’ new coach, JJ Redick, continues to receive praise for the team’s improved start to the season, the pressure on Ham to prove his worth as an assistant in Milwaukee will only grow. The veteran coach must show that he has learned from his mistakes and can be a valuable asset to Doc Rivers’ staff, or else risk becoming a perpetual target of criticism from Lakers fans.
The NBA season is still young, but Darvin Ham’s reputation is already on the line as he navigates his new role in Milwaukee. Both on the court and in the eyes of the public, the road ahead will be a tough test.