Draymond Green Opens Up on How the Signing of New Head Coach for LeBron James’ Lakers Is Personal to Him

The Los Angeles Lakers made a huge call in choosing a replacement for Frank Vogel. They chose to give yet another first-time head opportunity, this time to former NBA player Darvin Ham. Coming from being an assistant manager for the championship-winning Milwaukee Bucks, it looks to be a great move by the Lake Show. However, it means something totally different to Warriors forward, Draymond Green. He spoke about Ham being an inspiration to Saginaw after making such a big opportunity come to life.

Ham was not the most impactful player in his days as an NBA player. Coming off the bench, Ham played just 8 seasons in the NBA. However, in his short time, Ham managed to capture an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 by shocking Kobe Bryant and Shaq Lakers. Ever since his retirement, Ham has made rounds in the G-League and NBA as a coach. And he has done a great job so far in his young career as a coach. Being another coach to transition from the G-League into the NBA, Ham has the knowledge it takes to lead a team.

For the purple and gold, Ham is an answer to all their problems. But for Green, the former NBA champion poses as an inspiration. He spoke about how it is a huge deal for a Saginaw native to get such an opportunity in the big league and why it means more to him.

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Draymond Green inspired by Ham’s new role with the Lakers

During the recent episode of his podcast, Green spoke about the impact the Lakers’ head coach signing has on him. As a kid in Saginaw, Green said he wasn’t able to see much of the outside world. However, athletes such as Jason Richardson and Ham gave hope to Green’s NBA dreams and allowed him to take the leap. Now, with Ham getting yet another huge break in his coaching career, Green was over the moon. It meant much more than a hiring to him because it gives hope to a kid from his hometown.

Green said: “The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, a kid from Saginaw? That’s groundbreaking man that’s big time. When you come from small places like that, you really grab on to that. Because ultimately what you are looking for is hope.”

He continued saying, “What a signing like Darvin Ham does it gives that young kid hope. I was once that young kid. When Lamar Valley made it to the NFL, it gave me hope. When Jason Richardson made it to the NBA it gave me hope, when Davin Ham won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons, it gave me hope that I could do that too because those guys come from the same place I come from. So for me, this is so much bigger than than some Xs and Os or like oh man the Lakers hired another coach. For me, this is everything.”

Not many athletes have come from Saginaw, but a push like such goes a long way. Green drew inspiration from these examples and chased his dream to make it to the NBA. Since then, despite having a hard journey, Draymond was able to fight through. Now, he is one of the most pivotal pieces in the Warriors and is en route to his 6th trip to the NBA finals. With such an emotional connection to Ham’s signing, Green hopes another kid in Saginaw gets inspired to take a step forward.

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Source: | This article originally belongs to Essentially Sports