It's no secret that Giannis Antetokounmpo has a hard time with the Bucks and it looks like he's once again used his power in the coaching decision.
Fired Lakers coach Darvin Ham coached the Bucks from 2018-22 under Mike Budenholzer (who has since been fired) before taking the LA coaching job.
Giannis apparently had a hand in bringing Ham back to Milwaukee, where Ham had bigger ambitions than the top assistant, according to reporter Gery Woelfel.
“I just talked to a few NBA sources since former Lakers HC Darvin Ham joined the Bucks staff,” Woelfel said. “They were consistent that Giannis Antetokounmpo was a big contributor to Ham's recruitment (shocking, eh?)
Some of those sources also contend Ham, who had offers from seversl (sic) other teams, took the Bucks job thinking he would eventually take over from Doc Rivers as the Bucks HC.”
Ham worked closely with Giannis and built a good relationship with the two-time league MVP during the franchise's 2021 campaign.
When Ham left the Bucks, the team experienced little playoff success.
Last season in 2023, the Bucks were eliminated by the Heat in the first round of the playoffs, although Milwaukee finished the regular season with the league's best record.
After the recent season, Giannis and Damian Lillard suffered injuries and the team could not get past the first round against the Pacers.
Since the Bucks hired Doc Rivers to replace Adrian Griffin after just 43 games, Rivers has gone 17-19.
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