(ThyBlackMan.com) On August 5 of this year the world champion San Antonio Spurs’ head coach Greg Popovich signed an assistant coach. No big deal right? The new hire was a 16 year vet of the professional game having played domestically and overseas in Spain and Russia. Sounds like a very educated hire to me. What makes this hire different from any other in league history is unfortunately boiled down to sex.
Rebecca Lynn “Becky” Hammon was hired as the NBA’s first ever salaried full-time female assistant coach. There are two key words in the previous sentence that say a lot more about the Spurs, it’s front office staff, the team’s head coach and most importantly Becky Hammon herself: salaried and full-time.
Becky Hammon’s hire isn’t a publicity stunt. The San Antonio Spurs don’t work that way. Becky Hammon’s basketball knowledge and coaching abilities aren’t considered “good for a girl” they’re just plain good. A veteran point guard of 16 WNBA seasons ( eight with the New York Liberty and the previous five with the San Antonio Silver Stars), the Rapid City, South Dakota native’s nickname in San Antonio is “Big Shot Becky” for a reason having averaged over 19 points per game in 19 post season games as a Silver Star.
There could be no better franchise and city to better invite Becky Hammon into their coaching staff than the Spurs. And no better head coach to lead the way than ‘Coach Pop’. The organization’s best players barely made a peep this summer and they won the championship. Their best player, Kawhi Leonard, is a 23 year old mute (and I mean that with the utmost respect) that just goes out and wins the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award.
Becky Hammon is going to have to help coach men, millionaire athletes coming off a championship season. What a blessing it is to have those athletes be players the caliber and most importantly character of Tony Parker, Manu Ginoboli and Tim Duncan to name a few. Come to think of it I’m not sure who’s more blessed to making each other’s acquaintance.
Staff Writer; Donnell Suggs
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