Darvin Ham has heard the noise, and he’s had enough.
After Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone seemingly went on a victory lap after his team swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals, Ham, the Lakers’ coach, spoke about Malone’s celebration and how he felt about it during a recent podcast appearance.
“Oh, wow. You’re gonna bring up Money Mike, man? The Lakers’ daddy? That’s what they call him now? The Lakers’ daddy?” Ham said on the “#thisleague UNCUT” podcast with NBA reporters Marc Stein and Chris Haynes.
The nickname was coined by Nuggets broadcaster Vic Lombardi during Denver’s championship parade — and the team seemed more excited about their win over LeBron James and company than their NBA Finals victory against the Miami Heat.
Haynes told Ham that he will have the opportunity to talk once his team wins the NBA title, a journey which would most likely pit the two teams against one another once more to determine the Western Conference champion.
In response, Ham dropped a bar that will be echoed throughout the season.
“God bless his soul,” Ham said. “This s— ain’t over. God bless his soul.”
After a slow start to his first season coaching the team, Ham was able to take the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals.
Though they lost, there is an argument to be made that the Lakers made improvements this offseason to not only put up more of a fight against the NBA champion Nuggets but also make a legitimate run for a title in 2024.
Los Angeles retained key playoff performers in guard Austin Reaves and forward Rui Hachimura on a four-year, $56 million contract and a three-year $51 million deal, respectively.
They also signed additional role players such as guard Gabe Vincent, forward Taurean Prince, and center Jaxson Hayes, among others.
Maybe the biggest offseason news of all for the team was when LeBron James revealed at the ESPYs that he would not be retiring and would play another season.
With a revamped roster and additional motivation from their coach, the Lakers may be poised to not only take out the Nuggets, but any other team standing in their way on the path to banner No. 17.