Darvin Ham Caught in the Spotlight as Tyrese Haliburton’s Game-Winner Stuns Bucks
Former LA Lakers head coach Darvin Ham found himself back in the spotlight Tuesday night—this time as an unintentional background figure in one of the season’s most dramatic moments. As Tyrese Haliburton nailed a stunning game-winning four-point play to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 115-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, fans quickly noticed Ham standing courtside, hands in pockets, a familiar sight for Lakers fans.
The viral moment immediately sparked reactions, especially from Lakers supporters who remembered Ham’s tenure as their head coach from 2022 to 2024.
Haliburton’s NFL-Inspired Buzzer-Beater
The Pacers executed a brilliant final play, inspired by NFL-style movement to create space for Haliburton. Trailing 114-111 with just three seconds left, Indiana made a series of quick off-ball movements to free up Haliburton in the corner.
✔ Taurean Prince initially lost Haliburton on a screen
✔ Giannis Antetokounmpo rotated and contested the shot
✔ Haliburton still drained the three and drew the foul
The clutch bucket gave Indiana the 115-114 win, leaving the Bucks stunned.
Darvin Ham’s Viral Moment
While the spotlight was on Haliburton’s heroics, Darvin Ham was unintentionally front and center in the background of the game-winner. Now an assistant coach for the Bucks, Ham was seen standing courtside, hands in pockets, a posture Lakers fans instantly recognized from his days coaching in Los Angeles.
Social media erupted with memes from Lakers fans, joking that Ham’s signature stance had followed him to Milwaukee.
“Even as a Bucks coach, Ham still standing there watching things happen,” one fan tweeted.
“Tyrese Haliburton just hit that shot over Darvin Ham’s entire Lakers tenure,” another joked.
The moment was harmless and unintentional, but it once again brought Ham back into the conversation, months after he was dismissed by the Lakers in May 2024.
Ham’s Coaching Journey: From Lakers to Bucks
After two seasons as the Lakers’ head coach, Ham was let go in May 2024, following a disappointing playoff exit. Despite leading Los Angeles to the Western Conference Finals in 2023, his tenure was marked by inconsistent rotations, questionable lineups, and locker room tensions.
Shortly after his departure, he returned to Milwaukee, where he had previously been an assistant coach from 2018 to 2022. Ham is now part of the Bucks’ coaching staff, working under head coach Doc Rivers.
However, Tuesday’s game served as a stark reminder of the highs and lows of coaching in the NBA—where one moment you’re on top, and the next, you’re in the background of a viral game-winner.
What’s Next for Ham and the Bucks?
The Bucks (currently battling for top seeding in the East) will look to bounce back from the heartbreaking loss as they continue their playoff push. Meanwhile, Ham will aim to help Milwaukee improve defensively—something the team struggled with in crucial moments against the Pacers.
As for Lakers fans, this unexpected “Ham sighting” was simply another reason to reminisce about his tenure, for better or worse.
