How getting shot in the head inspired Darvin Ham to LA Lakers greatness

On April 5th, 1988, Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham nearly had his life cut short at 14 years old as he innocently went to pick up a pizza.

Ham grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, a place known for its crime and gang activity. The Lakers coach recalled hearing gunshots and fights every night.

On that night in April 1988, Ham and his brother drove to pick up a pizza and got caught in a crossfire, with one of the bullets hitting Ham in the jaw.

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Ham recalled hearing the gunshots and three men running toward his brother's car. When the bullet hit him, it got lodged in the back of his neck.

All in all, the Lakers coach spent 11 days in hospital, undergoing a successful operation. After the surgery, the doctor handed Ham the bullet and told him he was lucky to be alive.

Ham had to testify in a trial a couple of months later, but it was eventually ruled a mistrial because the person who was the original target didn't want to name the shooters.

It was a shocking moment for Ham, who realized if he had died, no one would have been convicted for his murder!

Saginaw, Ham's hometown, was named the Michigan city with the highest violent crime rate in the FBI's 2021 crime report, with the city ranking fourth nationwide.

According to heavy.com, Ham said: "You go through something like that, it's going to do one of two things. It's going to make you fearful or fearless."

"It made me fearless." His past trauma has helped Ham keep his composure in potentially overwhelming situations, and the Lakers job is one of them. He added, "I don't feel pressure, it's basketball."

At the start of his reign as Lakers coach in 2022, the pressure of Los Angeles and managing giant stars did look too much for Ham, leading the Lakers to a 2-10 start and being 13^th in the Western Conference by February.

Once Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, and Thomas Bryant had been shipped out and DiAngelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Mo Bamba, and Malik Beasley were brought in, results started to change.

Between the start of February and the start of April, Ham led his newly assembled Lakers team to the best defensive record in the league and on a 17-9 run, propelling them into playoff contention.

Ham led the LeBron James-backed Lakers to the Western Conference Finals, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Golden State Warriors before being swept by eventual winners Denver Nuggets.

This season, things couldn't have gone much better for Ham and the Lakers, going a perfect 6-0 to win the inaugural NBA Cup and sitting eighth in the Western Conference, one win away from fourth.

With a fully rejuvenated Anthony Davis and a prime LeBron James, can Darvin Ham lead the Lakers to an NBA Championship? Whatever happens, playing and coaching in the NBA is already a blessing for the Lakers coach!