The NBA is losing one of its most lauded figures from the sidelines. Longtime San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich is stepping down as the franchise’s head coach to assume a role as the President of Basketball Operations.
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon served as an assistant under Popovich for the Spurs from 2014 to 2021 prior to joining the Aces in her current role. Many thought that Hammon may be Popovich’s successor and become the first female head coach in the NBA, but Hammon is happy where she is for the time being.
“I’m super happy where I am,” Hammon said, according to ESPN. “This opportunity for me, I couldn’t pass on it. … I bet on myself instead of maybe waiting it out for a maybe [in the NBA]. I’ve enjoyed being back on the women’s side. You guys know I’m effusive about my love for this team and being back in the women’s game.”
However, Hammon isn’t completely ruling out being a head coach in the NBA one day.
“If I were to ever make that jump again, you know it just has to be the right fit, right time, in front of the right people, with the right team,” she said.
Hammon made sure to credit Popovich’s mentorship.
“That’s who mentored me, that’s who spent literally thousands of hours with me,” she said. “Watching him, I was there eight years. It’s a lot of games, it’s a lot of practices, it’s a lot of coaches meetings. So yeah, my heart’s a little heavy for him because I know how much he loves it, but I’m sure he’ll crush this role just as much.”
If Hammon keeps having the sort of success she has had in the WNBA, NBA franchises will be calling her in no time.
