Shockwaves in the NBA: Unexpected Name Emerges as Front-Runner for Pelicans Coaching Position

So, here we are again, watching the New Orleans Pelicans flounder like a pelican out of water this season—sporting a brutal 2-11 record that’s enough to make even the most die-hard fan cringe. With Willie Green already shown the exit door, the hunt for a new head coach is on, and guess who’s popped up on the radar? Darvin Ham—a name that’s been whispered in locker rooms and rumor mills alike. Now, Ham’s had his share of cheers and jeers from Lakers faithful during his rollercoaster two-year stint, but could he be the unlikely talisman to steer this sinking ship back to calmer waters? It’s a twisting tale that begs the question: can a coach with a controversial past revive a team drowning in doubt, or is this just another chapter in the Pelicans’ saga of woe? Let’s dive in—because in the world of basketball, hope is never completely lost, not with a pelican still flapping its wings… even if clumsily.

(Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

This season has been a nonstop disaster for the New Orleans Pelicans, who currently sit as the worst team in the Western Conference with a nightmarish 2-11 record. As a result, they recently fired head coach Willie Green.

That means the team is hard at work finding a new man to lead them, and there will be several people in contention for that role. According to Marc Stein, one of them is Darvin Ham.

“Stein: Darvin Ham ‘a name to watch’ in Pelicans’ head coaching search,” Underdog NBA wrote on X.

Stein: Darvin Ham "a name to watch" in Pelicans' head coaching search.

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) November 17, 2025

Although Ham has been a part of the NBA for more than a decade, he has only had one head coaching gig, and it was a complicated and controversial one. Los Angeles Lakers fans are divided about his two years leading that team from 2022 to 2024.

Throughout that period, the Lakers experienced many highs and lows. However, the highs were quickly forgotten because the lows were so painful.

There were many fans who felt Ham wasn’t properly using the roster and was wasting crucial time with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In the end, his firing wasn’t a huge surprise.

His two seasons with the Lakers resulted in a 90-74 record.

Ham is currently an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, and he seems to have a happy relationship with that team. However, a potential return to a head coaching position could be too good to pass up, and Ham might be packing his bags if an offer comes his way.

Of course, Ham won’t be the only one in the mix for this job. Even though the Pelicans are in a bad place, numerous proven professionals will want to lead them and help them climb out of this hole.

The post Insider Names Potential Candidate For Pelicans Coaching Job appeared first on The Cold Wire.