Lakers HC Darvin Ham tells reporter 'we don't teach flopping'

Lakers HC Darvin Ham Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers HC tells sideline reporter 'we don't teach flopping' during Game 5

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated 5/10/23

The usually bland mid-game coach’s interview was pretty spicy in Wednesday's Game 5 matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers earlier won Game 4 by a 104-101 final, taking a 3-1 lead in the series. After that contest, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr complained about the officiating and also commented on the supposed flopping of Lakers players.

Kerr specifically said that some of the whistles in that contest were specifically due to players trying to act out fouls. Kerr also said the Lakers “understand how to generate some calls.” You can read Kerr’s full remarks here.

Lakers HC Darvin Ham seemed to respond to that accusation in his sideline interview with TNT’s Chris Haynes after the first quarter of Game 5.

“We don’t teach flopping,” said Ham, responding to a seemingly unrelated question about Lakers guard Dennis Schroder not getting a call. “We teach our players to play downhill and attack the paint and be forceful.”

"We don't teach flopping" – Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/FiZ2hBz1Jx

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 11, 2023

Ham’s in-game remarks came after he was asked before the game about Kerr’s comments. At that time, Ham responded, in part, “I don’t go down the rabbit hole of blaming officials.”

Darvin Ham on Steve Kerr’s comments on the Lakers flopping: “I just control what I can control, which is coaching my team. I don’t go down the rabbit hole of blaming officials.”

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) May 11, 2023

The Lakers have overwhelmingly out-shot their opponents from the free throw line during this postseason. That was the case for much of the regular season as well -- perhaps after a big blown call went against the Lakers in a game in January -- with players like Schroder, Austin Reaves and LeBron James accused by fans of embellishing light contact in an attempt to draw whistles.

But the Lakers also often put the ball on the deck and attack the basket, which can lead to large free throw disparities compared to more jump shot-heavy teams like the Warriors. Regardless, Ham clearly doesn’t appreciate the insinuation that his players are a bunch of floppers though. Despite the fact that other teams seem to think the same thing about the Lakers.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: