Assistant Darvin Ham will coach the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night against the host Oklahoma City Thunder while head coach Doc Rivers is away from the team to attend a funeral.
The Bucks made the announcement less than two hours before both teams’ final game before the All-Star break was scheduled to tip off.
Ham, 52, has been the Bucks’ lead assistant coach since 2024 following a two-year stint as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He was on Milwaukee’s staff for four years before that (2018-22).
Ham went 90-74 as head coach of the Lakers, with one Western Conference Finals appearance.
Milwaukee also ruled out Ryan Rollins (right foot plantar fasciitis) while saying Kyle Kuzma (left foot soreness) was available. Both were considered questionable on the team’s injury report.
At 16.9 points per game in 51 appearances, Rollins ranks as the Bucks’ leading scorer this season among qualified players. Giannis Antetokounmpo (28.0 ppg, 30 games) remains sidelined by a right calf strain and will miss his ninth straight game.
