The NBA has once again proven why it is one of the most diverse professional sports leagues in the world. The San Antonio Spurs, the leagues defending champions have named Becky Hammon their newest assistant coach. She is now the first full-time female assistant coach in N.B.A history.
Hammon has been apart of the San Antonio Community for seven years. She was traded to the Alamo city from the New York Liberty in 2007. For the past year Hammon has worked closely with the Spurs coaching staff, learning the in and outs of coaching in the N.B.A. Greg Popovich must have been very impressed with Hammon ' s progress. The Spurs are about business. This hire was strictly about merit. Popovich and company are not in the business of making American history. For the Spurs winning comes first and Hammon has proven she can help the Spurs do just that.
Hammon has been a feisty point guard during her 16 year W.N.B.A career. She entered the league as an undrafted free agent. Hammon has put together one of the most accomplished careers in the short history of the league. She's averaged 13 points, 3.8 assist and 1.1 steals per game during her career. Her best season came in 2009, posting 19.5 points, 5.0 assist and 1.6 steals per game.
Hammon is a small town girl. She hails from Rapid City, South Dakota. She learned to play basketball by shooting basket after basket in her yard with the tutelage of her father. As a youth she dreamed about playing in the N.B.A. Today Hammon can tell young women they can one day become apart of the N.B.A family.
This hire could open doors for women in professional sports. How long will it be before we have a female third base coach or offensive coordinator? Hammon may never get to become a head coach in the N.B.A. However, a precedent has been set. America has taken another huge step in gender equality.
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