NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT

December 8, 2023

Darvin Ham

Los Angeles Lakers

Championship Practice Day

Q. Darvin, the other day I saw a stat from LeBron, players in 21st season, the highest points per game in a season was Vince Carter with seven points. LeBron is having like 25, 26. Can you explain to us what he's doing, how he can do that?

DARVIN HAM: Well, first and foremost, I've said it time and time again, just the way he takes care of himself. You have to start there. Like what you pour into your body, the resources you pour into your body, and not just during the season, but it's a year-round thing for him.

It's basically a way of life at this point, from his nutrition, his sleeping habits, his exercises, his stretching methods, weightlifting, all of that. It allows him to still perform at peak level. Really efficient with how we do our business from day-to-day, also. Our regimen helps.

But all of the resources he pours into himself to make sure he's not only available, available at the highest level.

Q. Last night you said there was no recipe to stopping the Pacers or you hadn't come up with the recipe yet. Have you come up with it, and what have you seen on film since you've been pouring over the Pacers?

DARVIN HAM: Obviously, from a strategic standpoint and for the sake of not revealing too much, two of the ingredients that show up in that recipe are making multiple efforts and having a next-play mentality. That's key because they're a fast team. They play with a lot of pace. They have a lot of guys that can function at a high level off the dribble, a lot of pick-and-rolls.

So, you definitely have to be -- have your track shoes on, come with the energy, the level of discipline we try to play with each and every time we step on the court.

We've got to be able to be ready, able and ready to make multiple efforts as well as have a next-play mentality, because you can do things well and the end results still not go in your favor. But just moving on to the next possession and trying to make the next possession better than the last, whether it was good, bad, or indifferent.

Q. It seems like in many areas that the Pacers may struggle and you guys thrive and vice versa. Have you felt a contrast of styles or contrast of strengths and weaknesses going over film work or scouting of the Pacers?

DARVIN HAM: We try to want to be the ones to initiate, sustain and finish with enforcing our will upon the game. You're going to see all different types of playing styles, habits, what have you when you face different opponents in this league. Their big thing is speed, and they have really above-average shooting.

As I mentioned, guys that can make plays off the ball, not just Haliburton, he's like the head of the snake, obviously, but for the most part, they have a ton of guys, Buddy Hield, Myles, Mathurin, all these guys. It's McConnell, it's Nesmith.

They have a lot of guys playing well right now. Obi, the pressure he puts on the glass and has running and cutting ability as well as corner threes.

We've just got to be ready for a little bit of everything, but we can't get so caught up in trying to stop and prevent them from doing what they like to do. We will, but we also can't forget to enforce our will upon the game, too. They have to guard us, too.

Coming out with an aggressive mindset will definitely be the first and foremost thing that we do.

Q. Darvin, Taurean has really struggled at times this year with really clean looks and stuff like that, but it seems like he's found a little bit of a rhythm here over the last six games. What has he meant to you guys with everything you've had to ask for him defensively to start the year with the injuries you've had, and do you see him settling in a little bit to his role with this team?

DARVIN HAM: Totally. You go through that process when you add new pieces to the mix. Guys have to learn each other. Even the guys you bring back have to relearn each other. People get better in different areas of their game.

But in terms of TP specifically, he's just a pro's pro. He is a savvy veteran. Really entering the prime of his career, his physicality, his energy, his shooting ability. When he wasn't making shots early on, I was not worried. I wanted him to keep shooting because I know what he's capable of.

Again, the physicality that he's brought to our squad and his consistency and being available is definitely sort of like a security blanket in some aspects.

He's going to continue to grow and mature in his role, and we're damn happy to have him on our team. He's definitely going to continue making shots. But he's always going to try to defend. He's always going to try to rebound, do the little things, and he's always going to try to be a positive source of encouragement for his teammates and his team as a whole.

Q. You obviously mentioned Tyrese Haliburton already. What stands out to you about him, and how is he a different, better player than when you guys played him last year?

DARVIN HAM: I mean, I just think his overall experience, again, becoming an All-Star last year, really maturing in that process this summer with Team USA. I saw the effects that it had on our own player, Austin Reaves, just the confidence, playing high-level basketball internationally, and then coming into it where a lot of the responsibilities for his team, Indiana, falls on his shoulders.

But that said, I see a kid out there, a multifaceted, highly talented player that's having a great time playing basketball. You see him, he's always smiling. He's in a good rhythm with his teammates. He's always encouraging his teammates. You can tell they have fun playing together.

I mean, he does everything. He does a little bit of everything. He puts pressure on you from the start of the clock to the end of the clock, a guy that's able to push the pace, make unbelievable passes and reads, make shots. He can just pretty much do it all.

I'm happy for him. He's a great kid. He was one of my favorite kids to watch. Whenever you engage him, it's always positive. It's fun. It's fun watching him have fun.

Q. Staying on Haliburton, does he remind you of any guys that you've seen in the league in the past, and if there isn't a name, just what are the skills that you think make him stand out at that position?

DARVIN HAM: I just think his size. He's sneaky athletic. He has length to him, and his vision is incredible. In terms of comparing him to somebody, I'd have to think about that for a little bit.

But I mean, the things he's able to do with the basketball, the way he sets up his teammates, looks off defenders, the way he pushes the pace in transition, he's constantly in attack mode.

Again, some guys, you see them playing, they're focused, they're locked in, and some guys, all while being locked in, you can see them actually having fun playing the game. Bron is like that, as well, where you see him out there laughing, smiling, passionate moments, all of that, but I think they've got a jewel, man.

For them to land that kid the way they did and for him to get that fresh start early in his career when you thought things were going to be one way in one place and then he goes to Indiana and just flourishes and takes off, I'm happy for him.