Spurs' Becky Hammon Becomes First Woman To Coach NBA Regular Season Game
By Anna Gallegos
December 31, 2020
The San Antonio Spurs and Becky Hammon made history on Wednesday night.
Hammon became the first woman in to coach a regular season NBA game in the league's history. She took over for head coach Gregg Popovich after he was ejected in the first half of Wednesday's home game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Obviously, it's a big deal. It's a substantial moment. I've been a part of this organization, I got traded here in 2007, so I've been in San Antonio and part of the Spurs and sports organization with the Stars and everything for 13 years. So I have a lot of time invested, and they have a lot of time invested in me, in building me and getting me better," Hammon said after the game.
The Spurs lost 121-107 to the Lakers, but players from both teams had nothing but respect for Hammon and her leadership skills.
"Tonight was a case where she got to step in and show her work, show her talents and her love for the game, and obviously, what she did as a player, first of all, we all know that. ... It's a beautiful thing just to hear her barking out calls, barking out sets, and she's very passionate about the game, so congrats to her and congrats to the league," Lebron James said post-game.
Hammon succeeded as a WNBA player before joining the Spurs in 2014 as the NBA's first full-time female assistant coach.
Earlier this year, a mural went up near 7718 Broadway in San Antonio that honored Hammon for her role as a trailblazer in both women's and men's basketball.
Photo: Getty Images