NBA The Spurs assistant admit to having been interviewed by the Pacers
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Ehe name Becky Hammon has been sounding for years as the leading contender to break down the NBA bench barrier that has prevented a woman from serving as head coach. The one who was a mythical point guard (she passed through Rivas and Ros Casares) has been working as Gregg Popovich’s assistant at Spurs since 2014 and has been linked to some franchises on several occasions. With the Thunder, Pacers, Pelicans, Sixers, Rockets and Clippers benches unoccupied, she may have her chance this year.
“I’ve met with the Pacers. It doesn’t depend on world when we’ll see a woman as head coach, but the more interviews I can get, the better practice I’ll have. I think it’s very close that day,” said Hammon, 43, who believes that social change can be brought to basketball: “When you look around the world and you start to see female leaders in all walks of life, be it in the Supreme Court, in the operating rooms, in the military in war situations and in a life or death battle, why can’t a woman train in basketball? “
In the season that is drawing to a close, the NBA benches have welcomed 12 assistant coaches. There are also some women in positions of responsibility in some franchises. “It’s about teaching, spreading knowledge, and I think the NBA has obviously been very outspoken about equality and diversity. I don’t think I can be accused of skipping any steps. I’ve been in professional basketball for 22 years as well. that I am trained and have been preparing for this for a long time. As soon as the opportunity presents itself and it is the right one for the organization and for me, I think they will see a woman in front of an NBA bench, “
Hammon, however, is not too fond of having the pioneer word attached to his name. “It’s a term I try not to think about. I just try to do my best every day and hope that it leads to more opportunities for more women. Being a pioneer you get wounds that a lot of people probably won’t see or hear, but being the first, obviously there are some things you have to work on and I think you need a lot of humility in the process because this is also new for men. It is new to have a woman sitting next to you, “he considers.
What the former player does not want is to be treated differently for the simple fact of being a woman, but that “people have the freedom to be who they are in my presence only helps the cause. People have to feel comfortable with it. Get used to seeing it, it can’t be abnormal to see a woman out there. I’m trying to normalize it as much as possible so that no one is surprised. If you are a Spurs fan, you will have gotten used to seeing a woman on the court. The goal is that is not so extraordinary. “
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