Bucks social media seemingly take shot at Lakers hyping Darvin Ham's 2x NBA Cup win

Following their Emirates NBA Cup victory against the OKC Thunder on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks' social media seemingly took a shot at the LA Lakers by hyping Darvin Ham's undefeated streak in the NBA Cup.

The Lakers previously won the tournament in 2023 with Ham as their head coach. Ham kept up the winning streak as the Bucks' assistant coach this year, going 14-0 in the tournament. The team's social media highlighted this achievement:

"We went Ham," the caption read.

The LA Lakers fired Ham after the conclusion of their 2023-24 season, seemingly scapegoating him for the poor end to their season. He also faced criticism from fans disheartened by the team's performance.

He didn't remain jobless for long, however, as the Bucks hired him as their assistant coach. Head coach, Doc Rivers, called Ham their "secret weapon" for the NBA Cup after Tuesday's championship win.

"By the way, we brought our secret weapon," Rivers said. "Darvin Ham is now an undefeated coach in two years in this cup."

Along with Ham, former Lakers forward Taurean Prince also clinched the same record with his second straight NBA Cup win.

Bucks decline champagne after NBA Cup victory on Darvin Ham's advice

The Milwaukee Bucks declined the celebratory champagne in their locker room after their NBA Cup victory, as suggested by their assistant coach, Darvin Ham. The Bucks were provided with coolers full of champagne and Michelob Ultra along with safety glasses to celebrate their victory. The entire setup remained untouched, however.

As reported by NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Bucks chose to forego the champagne and shifted their focus to the remainder of the season.

"Bucks coach Doc Rivers told me after talking with Darvin Ham and his experience with Lakers last season, they chose not to celebrate The Cup championship with dousing and drinking of champagne. Want to focus on the remainder of the season."

Darvin Ham's suggestion might pertain to the celebration held last year after the LA Lakers won the NBA Cup. After celebrating their win with the customary champagne party, the Lakers went on to finish eighth in the Western Conference before being bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bucks currently stand fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 14-11 record, winning eight of their last 10 regular season games. The NBA Cup was a statement victory for the team after they began their season with a 2-8 run. They look to keep up the winning momentum for the season's title.