Last season, in a regular-season game between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, Becky Hammon made history. After head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected, Hammon stepped in as his replacement, becoming the first female coach of a U.S men’s pro team. Hammon performed well in her role, with several fans noting that she was ready to be a head coach in the NBA. And this off-season, she came very close to that role.
Hammon was a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers head coaching position. However, the franchise ultimately chose to go in another direction, selecting Chauncey Billups as the candidate to replace Terry Stotts. Hammon recently spoke in an interview with CNBC, discussing a host of subjects including her recent talks with the Blazers. She noted that she wasn’t upset by their decisions, understanding the nature of the business.
“I’m not mad. This is the business, and it’s a very competitive business. But, at the end of the day, throw everything out the window — if you want to hire me, you’ll find a reason to hire me. And if you don’t want to hire me, you’ll find that reason, too. And that’s just that.”
Hammon also noted that she is ready to take on a head coaching position, but doesn’t want to get the job for the sake of diversity and inclusivity. She wants to be selected on her merit, much like Popovich did when he brought Hammond into the mix years ago.
“I don’t want to make the news because I’m the first female. At the end of the day, I want to make news because I’m hired for my qualifications. It was the original intent of Gregg Popovich when he hired me in 2014 — which is: ‘She added something to the group. She adds something to our team. I admire her mind and the way she looks at the game.’”
Hammon, who played in the WNBA during her career, knows what it takes as an athlete to perform at the highest level. And having worked under Gregg Popovich for so many years, she has learned about coaching from one of the all-time greats. Hammon is ready to make the next move in coaching, and all that remains to be seen is where she will do it.
