The Toronto Raptors are performing an extensive search for their new head coach after firing 2019 NBA title-winning head coach Nick Nurse after a disappointing season.
Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the Raptors have permission to speak to Becky Hammon, currently coaching the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA. Hammon is the reigning WNBA Coach of the Year and won the championship last season.
REPORT: The Raptors have secured permission to speak to Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, per @wojespn.
Hammon led the franchise to the 2022 WNBA championship and was voted the league's coach of the year.
She spent eight seasons as an assistant with the Spurs. pic.twitter.com/mEUQCd2Wa9
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) April 27, 2023
Hammon has a lot of pedigree, as she is considered one of the greats of women’s basketball. She was earmarked to be in line to succeed Gregg Popovich as coach of the San Antonio Spurs after spending eight years as an assistant under Pop before she left for the WNBA. Hammon is the only female coach to have ever served as an interim head coach and is likely going to be the first female coach to ever get a full-time NBA head coaching job. She is being inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame class as well.
The 2023 Coaching Carousel Will Be Fun
With the season still going on, there is no guarantee of which coaches in the playoffs right now are safe. The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t fired coach Mike Budenholzer yet, but many expect his sacking to come soon. In addition, open opportunities are already being snapped up, with the Rockets finalizing Ime Udoka to be the head coach to succeed Stephen Silas.
Hammon is going to be one of the best coaches available for a job, and other teams could also have an interest in her services. The likes of Frank Vogel are yet to get another job as well, so the options are plentiful. The only question is, which other coaches end up losing their jobs now to have openings to fill? Ideally, none, but that’s never a realistic thought in the NBA.
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