EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Darvin Ham was introduced as the Los Angeles Lakers' new coach Monday with point guard Russell Westbrook standing off to the side in a public show of support for the hiring.
And Ham reciprocated that support right back to Westbrook, after a tumultuous first season in Los Angeles for the former league MVP.
"Don't get it messed up, Russell Westbrook is one of the best players our league has ever seen and there's still a ton left in the tank," Ham said. "I don't know why people tend to try to write him off.