American basketball coach and former player Darvin Ham and his wife Deneitra exchanged vows in 1998, celebrating over two decades of strong marital union.
Best known for his powerful dunks and defense, Darvin had an exceptional career as a basketball player.
His playing career in the NBA spanned from 1996 to 2005, and he secured an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
Later, he transitioned to a coaching career, serving as a head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA.
Currently, Darvin Ham Sr. is the top assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Recently, he faced criticism for his underwhelming coaching strategies, especially as the Lakers have performed relatively better this season.
While Darvin is widely recognized for his career achievements, his notable personal life has also attracted considerable public attention.
Darvin Ham and His Wife First Met During Their Texas University Years
The celebrated couple began their journey together at Texas Tech University, where Darvin played basketball, and Deneitra completed her studies.
Subsequently, Darvin and Deneitra’s mutual feelings blossomed into a beautiful and longlasting marriage.
The lovebirds walked down the aisle on Feb 7, 1998, and are proud parents of two wonderful children, Donovan and Dominic.
Darvin also has another son named Darvin Ham Jr., from a previous relationship when he was in high school.
Furthermore, Deneitra recently posted a heartfelt message on her Facebook page, celebrating the couple’s 26 years of togetherness.
Born on August 24, 1976, Deneitra is a dedicated Elementary and Middle school teacher.
According to her Facebook profile, she attended Lincoln Humanities/Communications Magnet High School and studied at Lamar University.
Additionally, she co-founded Urban Youth Development, a non-profit organization she founded with her husband in 2003.
Her organization focuses on Youth Development, Physical/Health Development, and Public & Community Engagement.
The Urban Youth Development collaborates with local public schools and communities to provide athletic programs and activities.
Both, Darvin and Deneitra, are dedicated philanthropists who are profoundly committed to giving back to their community.
In 2005, Deneitra Received Probation After a Domestic Violence Incident Involving Darvin Ham
Even though the couple has enjoyed a long-lasting marital life, they have encountered some rough patches over the years.
In 2002, authorities apprehended Darvin on domestic violence charges during his playing days.
However, Deneitra Ham withdrew the charges, and Darvin also apologized to her publicly.
On the other hand, Deneitra received a year of probation for hitting her husband on the head with a wine bottle.
According to reports, the couple had been arguing, and after the blow to his head, Darvin fell to the floor bleeding.
Darvin declined medical treatment at the hospital, and the firefighters treated his head wound at the scene.
Moreover, Darvin chose not to press charges against his wife but was sentenced to an anger management program as well as 30 hours of community service.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Following their playoff exit, the Lakers dismissed Ham on May 3, 2024, after two seasons with the team.
- Ham is the son of Wilmer Jones-Ham, the first female mayor of Saginaw, serving from 2001 to 2005.
- In June 2011, Ham traveled to Venezuela as a SportsUnited Sports Envoy for the U.S. Department of State and worked to conduct basketball clinics for 300 youth from underserved areas.
