Becky Hammon has worked the past few seasons to become an NBA head coach, and on Wednesday she reached the goal … even if only for a short period of time. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was fired during the second quarter of their game against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Hammon took over as acting head coach. This makes her the first woman to serve as head coach during an NBA game in the regular season.
Hammon, a WNBA legend, has been an assistant at the Spurs since 2014. She has since risen through the ranks to serve as head coach for the Spurs in a number of different capacities ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Lakers. She led the organization’s Summer League team, and when the Spurs turned head coaches during the altercation that led to the restart of the NBA in Orlando last season, she coached the team in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. But when Popovich had to leave the team for personal reasons last season, it was team legend and then assistant coach Tim Duncan who stepped into Popovich’s chair as head coach.
However, Duncan retired after last season and paved the way for Hammon to now earn the distinction. Although the distinction will only last for Wednesday’s match, she will surely get a permanent chance. Many believe that Hammon is the heir to San Antonio and that he will take over the Spurs when Popovich retires. If not, she was interviewed for head coach positions at the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers. Eventually, she’s likely to become a full – time NBA head coach.
But Wednesday’s clash with the Lakers was her first chance to do so in a game that counts, and although the defending champion was not a realistic goal, she acquitted herself well in the role she could one day permanently occupy.