Quin Snyder, the former head coach of the Utah Jazz, is one of many friends and colleagues in the industry from whom the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Ham, has sought guidance. Ham said that he makes particular calls to Snyder a couple of times each week. On the same coaching staff, Ham and Snyder collaborated on many occasions. During the 2011–12 season, they both served as Lakers assistants under former head coach Mike Brown.
Ham remained on Mike D'Antoni's staff for an additional season, and Snyder spent a year as an assistant coach with the Russian team CSKA Moscow. Before Snyder accepted the Utah position, the two men were once again together on the coaching staff of the Atlanta Hawks for the 2013–14 season. After leaving the Jazz prior to what would have been his eighth season as their coach, the 55-year-old Snyder was in a type of gap year.