Shams Charania is reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers are about to hire former Detroit Pistons star Rasheed Wallace as an assistant coach under new head coach Darvin Ham.
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1533837480780349447
Ham was hired last week as the new Lakers head coach after having served as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks when they won the NBA Championship last year.
Penny Hardaway says he expects Rasheed Wallace to take a position with new Lakers coach Darvin Ham.
Says Tigers have two openings on the staff to fill.
— S. Johnson (@StevenMJohnson_) June 6, 2022
Wallace and Ham played with one another on the Detroit Pistons team that won the NBA title in 2004. Wallace was a long-time assistant with the Pistons before joining Penny Hardaway as an assistant with the Memphis Tigers last year.
Wallace and Ham both have reputations for being tough while they played for the Pistons and, according to reports, Ham was still that way as an assistant, taking little BS from any players.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recently told ESPN “I’m so happy for him (Ham). He’s the right fit for them. He keeps it real with you. No BS at all. It’s about damn time. He deserves it more than anyone.”
Many would say what the Lakers lacked the most this past year was toughness and, according to many, Wallace and Ham will bring that much-needed toughness with them. Neither are afraid to push players, even if they are superstars.