Darvin Ham Reflects on What Made Kobe Bryant and Other Legends Truly Great
You know, when you spend your career around the best of the best, you start to notice patterns that most people miss. Darvin Ham, who’s had the rare opportunity to coach some of basketball’s all-time greats, recently shared some fascinating insights about what separates the true legends from everyone else. Ham started his coaching journey as an assistant with the Lakers under Mike Brown, then moved on to the Hawks and Bucks, before returning to Los Angeles as head coach. Now, he’s back in Milwaukee as Doc Rivers’ top assistant. Through all these roles, he’s worked closely with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Damian Lillard. That experience gave him a unique perspective on what it really takes to be exceptional in the NBA.
On the Hoop Genius podcast, Ham described a trait that all of these legendary players share. He called it the “common denominator” — a commitment to greatness that goes beyond natural talent. Ham explained that these players embraced the responsibility to excel through relentless work ethic, deep film study, and a thorough understanding of every detail of the game. He specifically mentioned Kobe, LeBron, and his former Pistons teammate Ben Wallace as perfect examples of this mindset.
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But Ham is quick to point out that greatness isn’t a solo journey. Basketball is a team game, and even the most extraordinary players need help to achieve lasting success. “Being an individual great player comes with a lot of responsibility,” Ham said. “Those great players that go on to put banners up, to have those rings, they understand that they need help.” He went on to illustrate this point with examples from his coaching career: Kobe needed Shaq and later Pau Gasol to win championships, LeBron relied on teammates like Wade, Bosh, Kyrie, and Anthony Davis, and Giannis leaned on Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton in 2021. Even Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest of them all, only reached the pinnacle when his team rose to greatness alongside him.
Ham shared a memorable moment from Jordan’s career, when he trusted Steve Kerr in the huddle after being double-teamed, leading to a game-winning play. That trust in teammates, Ham noted, was a hallmark of all legendary players. It takes a certain ego to become great, but those who rise to an even higher level know how to put that ego aside and understand that no one wins alone.
This lesson has been echoed throughout basketball history. Magic Johnson had the rest of the Showtime Lakers. Larry Bird was surrounded by Hall-of-Famers in Boston. Tim Duncan relied on Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili. Even more recently, stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leaned on teammates like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to secure a title. Ham’s insight is a reminder that while we celebrate individual greatness, the ultimate success always comes from teamwork. In basketball, no legend ever stood alone.
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