The Sacramento Kings are bringing in D.J. Ham to lead player development as part of new head coach Doug Christie’s staff.
As reported by James Ham of The Kings Beat, Ham joins the Kings after spending last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he worked in player development and served as a video assistant.
D.J. is the son of veteran NBA coach and current Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham. This move marks a new chapter in the younger Ham’s coaching career as he steps into a lead developmental role for the first time.
Sacramento’s hire of Ham continues the franchise’s offseason overhaul following the May 1 promotion of Christie to full-time head coach. The Kings are coming off a season that ended without a playoff berth, and the front office has made development a top priority heading into 2025–26.
Ham’s track record with the Cavaliers includes working with a roster that emphasized youth development and internal growth. Cleveland’s recent playoff consistency has been attributed in part to the work of its developmental staff, where Ham contributed over the past two years.
His arrival aligns with the Kings’ commitment to building around a mix of proven veterans and promising young players. Sacramento’s current roster includes multiple early-career players such as second-round pick Maxime Raynaud, two-way wing Daeqwon Plowden, and sophomore guard Keon Ellis.
In June, the Kings traded into the first round of the NBA Draft to select Colorado State shooting guard Nique Clifford and later picked Raynaud from Stanford. Both prospects are expected to spend time working closely with Ham and the Kings’ development staff throughout training camp and the early season.
Christie’s coaching staff now features several notable former players, including associate head coach Mike Woodson, assistant coach Leandro Barbosa, and Bobby Jackson. The addition of Ham further expands Sacramento’s focus on building a player-focused system.
