Becky Hammon’s days as an assistant coach with the Spurs are coming to an finish very quickly.
Hammon is closing in on a historic deal to grow to be the brand new head coach of the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA, in accordance to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Chantel Jennings. The deal will reportedly make Hammon the highest-paid coach in league historical past.
Hammon has been an assistant with San Antonio for the previous six seasons, and has been on the entrance of the Spurs’ bench since 2018. The 44-year-old was a six-time WNBA All-Star in a 16-year taking part in profession.
She served because the Spurs’ head coach through the summer season league in previous seasons and stepped in as coach for the group through the 2020 common season when head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected on Dec. 30, 2020. Hammon was just lately linked as a goal for head coach positions with each the Aces and the Liberty, per the Athletic.
In an interview with SI’s Michael Pina in August, Hammon reaffirmed her need to at some point be a head coach, including that she’s realized lots from the method of interviewing for head teaching jobs within the NBA.
“I feel I get higher each time I’m going by it and stroll by that door. However on the finish of the day, a company is gonna rent me as a result of I’m the perfect coach for the job,” Hammon stated. “And all of the stuff that comes after that can come. There’s no stopping that tidal wave. And I feel, for me, it’s all the time a wonderful line of not overlooking or underestimating or downplaying the second. However my main focus has to be to grow to be the perfect coach that I will be, and be there for my gamers, for no matter group is the suitable match for me.”
Whereas it appears to be like like all indicators level to Hammon taking her abilities to Las Vegas, the transfer caught many without warning contemplating that the Aces didn’t enter the offseason in want of a coach. Solely two franchises—the Liberty and the Mercury—had been trying to find new head coaches.
In accordance to The Athletic, present Aces head coach Invoice Laimbeer may probably take a entrance workplace position or advisory position with the group. Laimbeer has recorded a 77–45 report with the group by 4 seasons.
When Hammon formally becomes the coach of the Aces, she is going to get to work instantly on free agent acquisitions, as WNBA free company begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1.
Contemplating the Aces’ roster, three gamers—Chelsea Grey, Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby—can be underneath contract for the 2022 season. Nevertheless, A’ja Wilson can be a restricted free agent whereas each Liz Cambage and Angel McCoughtry can be free brokers.
