Rapid City native Becky Hammon has received a promotion within the San Antonio Spurs organization. The team announced Wednesday that Hammon will replace James Borrego, who recently left the Spurs to take the head coaching job for the Charlotte Hornets.
This will move Hammon to ‘the front of the bench,’ as reported by ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Spurs have promoted assistant coach Becky Hammon to the front of the bench, replacing James Borrego.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2018
Basically, if current Head Coach Gregg Popovich were to get ejected (for some reason) in a game, Hammon would be second in command.
The South Dakota native was recognized with the South Dakota Miss Basketball award as a junior at Stevens high school, and was also voted as the South Dakota Player of the Year during her senior year.
After high school, Hammon went on to play college ball at Colorado State, a program who retired her number in 2005.
From 1999-2014, she played professional basketball in the WNBA (99-06 – New York Liberty, 07-14 – San Antonio Stars).
Hammon achieved many awards and accolades during her time playing professional basketball.
In August of 2014, Hammon was hired as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs organization, becoming the first full-time female coach throughout the leagues tenure.
It has been speculated that Hammon could also become the first female head coach in NBA history, a feat that almost happened in May of this year when the Detroit Pistons were considering her to fill their head coach vacancy.
