Becky hammon, assistant technique of the San antonio spurs, today became the first woman to lead a team of the NBA as head coach in a regular season game, and after the game, she admitted it was significant but I also try to treat it normally. “Obviously it is something very big. It is an important moment,” he said at the press conference after the Spurs’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers (107-121).
Hammon took over the Spurs reins today in the final stretch of the second quarter after Texans coach Gregg Popovich was sent off for protesting to umpires. “Popovich pointed to me and that was it,” he summed up on how he found out he should step up. “Honestly, at the time I was just trying to win the game. I say this a lot, but I try not to think too much about the big picture or the huge aspect of it because it can be overwhelming,” he said. “It’s my job to get out there and be focused on these players and make sure I’m helping them,” she said.
Although his milestone It quickly became one of the most talked about topics today on social networks, the coach assured that at that moment she was not yet very aware of what she had achieved. “I really haven’t had time to reflect. I haven’t looked at my phone so I have no idea what happened beyond the AT&T Center (Spurs’ stadium),” he explained.
The compliments They also came from the rival team with Lakers star LeBron James at the helm. “She had to take charge today, show her work, show her talent and show her love for this sport,” James said. “She is very passionate about this sport. congratulations to her and congratulations to our league, “he added.
Hammon had already directed a friendly game for the Spurs, but this was the first time he dealt with his team in an official regular season game. “This was a learning situation for all of us, but I would like to have ended the match with a victory for our players,” he said.
Hammon argued that his team made “a decent effort” against the Lakers, whom he described as “a tough team”, and confident that, facing the new duel against the purple and gold that will take place on Friday, the Spurs they will be able to “improve” to be more competitive. She also stressed that her debut as head coach was normal for the Spurs squad, as they “are used to” hearing her scream and designing plays for them.
Hammon had a brilliant playing career in the WNBA, on teams like the San Antonio Stars; and in international basketball, in groups such as the Spanish Rivas Ecópolis and Ros Casares Valencia. In 2014, she retired as a player, took the bench and signed as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, making her the first woman to be part of an NBA coaching staff.
