Former Lakers coach linked to potential gig with talented West team

Per Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, ex-Lakers coach and current Bucks assistant Darvin Ham emerged as a prominent name within the Pelicans who could lead the team as their next head coach.

The New Orleans Pelicans are set to make a major decision after this brutal season on who will call the shots for their young and talented group.

Los Angeles Lakers / Schedule

After a turbulent 2-10 start in 2025-26, the franchise sacked Willie Green and named James Borrego as their interim head coach.

While Borrego has made a good impression across the team throughout his temporary takeover, NBA insider Brandon Robinson revealed that Darvin Ham stands as a favorite head coaching candidate for the Pelicans.

“Despite the respect he has earned from the roster, sources familiar with the situation suggest the Pelicans are unlikely to remove his interim tag for the 2026-27 campaign. While Borrego could potentially return to an assistant role—a path he took previously with the Orlando Magic—the name echoing through the halls of the front office this summer is Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham,” he wrote.

Ham previously served as the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach. He notably guided LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rest of the group to an epic Western Conference Finals appearance in 2023 and in the NBA’s first-ever In-Season Tournament title the following year.

But following the Lakers’ first-round loss against the Denver Nuggets, Ham was subsequently dismissed by the franchise. JJ Redick served as his successor.

Currently, Ham serves as an assistant for Doc Rivers with the Milwaukee Bucks. There, he won an NBA championship as part of Mike Budenholzer’s coaching staff in 2021.

Ham has significant ties with Pelicans president Joe Dumars. The former NBA veteran was a key part of the Detroit Pistons’ 2004 NBA title, which the Hall of Famer built as a top executive.

Featuring Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones and a bunch of talented core of Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen and Yves Missi, the Pelicans are looking to bounce back next season in the wake of being one of the worst teams in the NBA this year.

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