Becky Hammon said she has always followed her heart and not worried about what other people think of her career decisions.
There were concerns when she chose to play at Colorado State instead of a bigger school. There was backlash about her playing for Russia in the Olympics and now she has heard rumblings about leaving the NBA and coach the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces.
鈥淢y heart was saying it was time to go. This is where I am supposed to be right now,鈥� she said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. 鈥淭here were a lot of sleepless nights getting to this conclusion."
She spent eight years as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs becoming the first fulltime female coach in NBA history. She learned from one of the NBA's best in Gregg Popovich and now feels it is time to for a different path, so she pivoted to the WNBA, where she played for many years.
鈥淟as Vegas sees me as a head coach now,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he WNBA has called every year with job openings. ... I鈥檝e always said thank you I鈥檓 very flattered, but stayed on this path. This was first time where I was like I鈥檒l listen.鈥�
She鈥檚 proud of her still鈥攂eing-written legacy as a trailblazer, having interviewed for several NBA head coaching jobs. But for now, her dream of becoming the first woman to lead an NBA team is on hold.
鈥淲omen are getting hired in all sorts of positions now. Not just the NBA, but across professional sports leagues,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or anyone to say the needle hasn鈥檛 moved is wrong. The process (interviewing) in Portland moved the needle. It was a great process for me.鈥�
Hammon has heard the outside noise that taking the WNBA job is a step down and she takes umbrage with any who believes it.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 an ignorant statement. To think I鈥檝e outgrown the WNBA in a coaching capacity is ridiculous," she said. 鈥淚鈥檇 rather be a coach in the WNBA and have my own organization and be running a team."
There are still a half dozen women assistant coaches in the NBA. Hammon鈥檚 resume jas earned her plenty of respect: A person familiar with her contract says she will be the WNBA鈥檚 highest-paid coach. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the deal has not been publicly announced, and they are still unclear.
鈥淚t's a great opportunity to have a head coaching job at that level.鈥� Popovich said. 鈥淭o prove herself. She鈥檚 already proven herself to me, but that doesn鈥檛 matter in the long run. She鈥檚 interviewed for a few jobs in the NBA, and she鈥檚 more than qualified and would have done a great job.鈥�
Hammon will be pulling double-duty for the next few months until the Spurs' season is over. One of the first things that she鈥檒l have to do is hire her own coaching staff. She鈥檚 begun calling Aces鈥� players to get to know them.
鈥淩ight now I鈥檓 reaching out to all the players on the roster,鈥� she said. 鈥淓stablish a relationship with them and talk a little bit about roles what we鈥檙e doing offensively and defensively.鈥�
The Aces finished with the second-best record in the WNBA last season at 24-8 before falling to the Phoenix Mercury in the semifinals. The franchise, looking for its first WNBA title, has a solid core led by former MVP A鈥檍a Wilson.
Hammon was coy about what her on-court philosophy will be, only saying that the team which was last in 3-pointers attempted will definitely shoot more this season. The 44-year-old former WNBA player says she just wants to coach for now and not worry about being the team's general manager.
鈥淒own the road we鈥檒l talk. I just want to coach. That鈥檚 it. Get out there, get with the players,鈥� Hammon said. 鈥淕et in the foxhole with each other.鈥�
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More AP women鈥檚 basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press
