The Pistons may help serve up a little history this offseason when it comes to their new head coach. According to Rod Beard of the Detroit News, Detroit is considering Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon for the gig after parting ways with Stan Van Gundy back on May 7th after he served four seasons as the team’s head coach and president of basketball operations.
Hammon, who could become the first female head coach in NBA history has generated interest this offseason recently interviewing with the Milwaukee Bucks before they ultimately decided to go with former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer yesterday. The 41-year-old Hammon however has already made history in the NBA becoming the first female full-time assistant when she was added to the Spurs’ coaching staff back in 2014.
Additionally, Beard also spoke with several Pistons players on the notion of playing for Hammon. (via NBA.com)
Hammon, 41, is on the Pistons’ radar as they look to fill their coaching vacancy after parting ways with Stan Van Gundy last week. Hammon last week reportedly interviewed with the Milwaukee Bucks, who reached an agreement to hire Mike Budenholzer as their next coach Wednesday.
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Hammon’s name is one of the possible candidates mentioned for some of the three remaining vacancies for head NBA head coaches, with the Pistons, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors.
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“She is an interesting — and by all accounts, qualified — candidate,” a league source who declined to comment on specific coaching searches told The Detroit News. “She’s a legitimate candidate for a head-coaching job, alongside several other rising assistant coaches in the league.”
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Having a woman as a head coaches isn’t as controversial to the players as some of the national discussion would suggest.
“I’m not sure how others would receive it and I understand it may be a transition that would have its own challenges, but I just want the best person for the job,” Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson said.
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“I wouldn’t have an issue with it at all,” Pistons forward Anthony Tolliver said. “It would take some getting used to at first but as long as she knows what she’s doing, guys would respond just fine.”
Now I’m sure some will see this as a gimmick or a cheap strategy to sell tickets or generate interest in an organization. That however shouldn’t be the case considering Hammon should be seen as a legit contender for an NBA head coaching job. When it comes to her playing credentials Hammon spent 16 seasons in the WNBA where she was a six-time All-Star while being named to the League’s first and second team’s twice throughout her career. Finally back in 2011 Hammon was also named as a top-15 all-time WNBA player which capped off her playing career.
As far as coaching goes, in 2015 Hammon help guide the Spurs to a Summer League title all while learning under who needs no introduction as one of the greatest head coaches of all-time, in any sport.
Meanwhile the Pistons are also considering a familiar name in Jerry Stackhouse who’s currently the head coach of the Raptors’ G-League team.