Lakers coach Darvin Ham doesn't hold back feelings about 'Money Mike' Malone, Steve Kerr
Lakers coach Darvin Ham stirred things up during a recent appearance on the “#thisleague UNCUT” podcast, and Nuggets coach Michael Malone might be among those taking notice.
Malone guided the NBA champion Nuggets to a four-game sweep over the Lakers in the Western Conference finals. Said Ham of his counterpart: "God bless his soul. This (expletive) ain't over. God bless his soul."
When Malone’s name was first mentioned during the podcast, co-hosted by Marc Stein and Chris Haynes, the Lakers’ coach said, “Oh, wow. You're gonna bring up Money Mike, man? The Lakers' daddy? That's what they call him now? The Lakers' daddy?"
Vic Lombardi, a studio host for Nuggets’ telecasts, apparently got under Ham's skin when at the Nuggets’ championship parade and rally he told the crowd Malone “came into this world as the son of a coach, but in these playoffs he became the Lakers’ daddy.’’
Darvin Ham still irked by Steve Kerr's postseason comments
Ham also renewed a pointed give-and-take he had with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who during the Western Conference semifinals accused the Lakers of flopping.
“It’s lame as hell,” Ham said on the podcast when told Kerr was using the media to try to influence the officials like Phil Jackson used to do.
In the Western Conference semis, the Lakers shot more than twice as many free throws as the Warriors did – 103 to 48. After a loss in Game 4, Kerr told reporters, “I thought they took some flops and were rewarded.”
The following day, he called on the NBA to do a better job of “cleaning up flopping’’ and added, “In the meantime, I give the Lakers credit for the plays that they’ve been able to sell.”
Responded Ham, “…we hadn't done it all year, and we're damn sure not going to start now, looking for a third party to dive in and help us.’
On the podcast, he said, “I’ll be damned if I let someone else try to manipulate the way we approach our game, the competitiveness in which we come with, like we’re trying to disguise and try to pull the wool over someone’s eyes. No, we’re coming out, we’re playing smash-mouth basketball. That’s the way we teach it, that’s the way we preach it and that’s the way we’re going to execute it when the lights come on.”
Darvin Ham has a chip on his shoulder
Ham delivered during his rookie year as a head coach. He proved to be a calming presence during a 2-10 start, navigating the controversy surrounding Russell Westbrook and then integrating a bevy of players added before the trade deadline.
Before the Lakers hired him, Ham indicated on the podcast, he interviewed with 10 other teams about their head coach vacancies and got no offers.
“They (expletive) up royally,” he said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers' Darvin Ham has strong words for Michael Malone, Steve Kerr
