The San Antonio Spurs continue to lap up the good PR simply by virtue of making solid decisions. Today they’ve announced the hiring of Becky Hammon as an assistant coach, working under much respected head coach Gregg Popovich. Hammon becomes the first female to be employed full time as an NBA coach, and only the second to serve time on a coaching panel, following Lisa Boyer‘s tenure as a volunteer assistant on the Cleveland Cavaliers coaching team during the 2001-02 season.
Hammon will be retiring from her playing career in the WNBA, where she is currently a member of the San Antonio Stars, at the conclusion of this year’s season at the end of the month. Hammon’s playing career has been prolific, and her stats rank her as one of the greatest players in WNBA history.
But Hammon is best known for her defection to Russia in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. After not being invited to try out for the US National Team, Hammon sought to gain a spot on the Russian roster, becoming a naturalised Russian citizen and leading the Russian side to a Bronze Medal in Beijing. She again represented Russia in the 2012 London Olympics.
Hammon has worked with the reigning NBA Champion Spurs in the past, and her official signing has been met with great enthusiasm by head coach Popovich, who stated, “I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff. Having observed her working with our team this past season, I’m confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs.“
The Spurs franchise is home to Australian legend Patty Mills, with fellow Australian Aron Baynes still yet to be re-signed by San Antonio.
The 2014-15 NBA Season begins on October 28th.
Photo: Christian Petersen via Getty Images.
via SB Nation.
