by Last week, a billboard was put up near the Boston Celtics practice facility, reading “Hey Brad, it’s time to shake it up. Hire Kara or Becky!”.
And honestly, I agree!
The NBA is riddled with head coaching vacancies, with the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, and Washington Wizards all parting ways with their head coaches after this past season.
It would be a disservice not only to the players, but to the entire NBA community, not to consider filling these roles with female coaches.
Take the Boston Celtics for example.
Brad Stevens has moved up to the head of basketball operations (which as a Boston fan, is questionable), and is now on the hunt for the next head coach.
The Celtics need a brand new look, as well as a complete attitude change in the locker room, after this season and the claims being made about the environment in Boston.
Hiring a female head coach like Kara Lawson, who has coached for the Celtics in the past, would not only would be a great way to gain a fresh perspective on the game and perhaps solve the problems in Boston…
It would also break barriers for females in the NBA.
Recycling the same head coaches around the league is getting old. It’s time for the NBA to get over the boys club mentality and take female coaches seriously!
The Candidates
The résumés of these female candidates are stacked.
They are filled with a years of experience in coaching and playing in the WNBA, as well as extremely high basketball IQs.
There are several names in the running to become the first ever female head coach in the NBA.
Spurs lead assistant coach Becky Hammon, University of South Carolina and Team USA head coach Dawn Staley, Duke Women’s Basketball head coach Kara Lawson, and Pelicans full time assistant Teresa Weatherspoon are being considered.
The stand-out choice out of this group is Becky Hammon, who is currently the lead assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, and even stepped in for Coach Popovich after he got ejected from a game in December of 2020.
Hammon is more than qualified, as she was a 6-time WNBA All-Star, rose through the ranks in the Spurs’ organization, and has gained the respect of all coaches and players in the NBA.
Each player that had the honor of being coached by Hammon and Coach Pop himself all agree that…
She can coach NBA basketball, no questions asked.
Why Not?
Change is hard.
It is obvious that NBA teams are hesitant to make this historic decision.
But, making this leap would change the future for females in sport forever.
Do I think Brad Stevens is going to follow the advice of the billboard put up in Boston? No.
But, I do think other teams may take the chance.
In fact, Becky Hammon is a finalist, along with Chauncey Billups, to become the new Portland Trailblazers head coach.
NBA Breaking Barriers
The NBA could be a pioneer in the sport world.
By having a female in a position of power, it could create space for other men’s leagues to follow suit, and make the move to hire women for head coaching jobs.
Whether it be the Trailblazers or another team, I hope and believe this summer is going to change the landscape of sports forever with the hiring of Becky Hammon.
It is a new era in sports, and hopefully it won’t be long until not only one, but multiple women are hired as head coaches in the NBA.
-Paige Atkinson (@paigeatkk)
I completely agree Great article!
Change is hard but it is much needed. Great Article, Paige.
Love this! Nicely done Paige.