CSU great Becky Hammon headed to NBA to coach
Former CSU women's basketball star Becky Hammon made history Tuesday when she was hired as an assistant coach by the San Antonio Spurs. She'll become the first full-time female assistant in NBA history.
Hammon, nicknamed "Big Shot Becky," is in her 16th season in the WNBA and eighth playing for the San Antonio Stars. She announced July 23 that she'd retire at the end of the year. During her career, the 37-year-old Rapid City, South Dakota, native, has amassed 5,809 points (seventh all-time), 1,687 assists (fourth) and played in 445 games (sixth).
Hammon said the Spurs have been watching her since she started playing for the Stars and that she wasn't hired because she was a woman, but because she's qualified for the job. She made the remarks during a news conference Tuesday in San Antonio.
"That's great and it's a tremendous honor (to be the first female working as a full-time assistant NBA coach), but I think the bigger point is that I'm getting hired because I'm capable, because of my basketball IQ and stuff that (the Spurs have) seen in me, personally," Hammon said. "We're talking about winning games and winning games at a high level. I'm ready to be treated as any other assistant coach."
Last season, Hammon attended Spurs practices and film sessions and sat behind the bench for the NBA champions at home game this season. She's been friends with Spurs teammates Tony Parker and Tim Duncan since competing in an NBA All-Star shooting competition in 2008. The Spurs are coming off their fifth NBA title, a decisive victory over the Miami Heat in June.
"I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff," Spurs coach Greg Popovich said in a news release. "Having observed her working with our team this past season, I'm confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs."
Hammon played for Colorado State University from 1996 to 1999 and, despite being a three-time All-American, wasn't selected in the 1999 WNBA draft. She signed and played for the New York Liberty her first eight seasons. She ranks first in most statistical categories in the Rams' record book, including 2,740 career points, making 918 field goals, 641 3-pointers, 539 free throws and recording 538 assists.
She was inducted to the CSU athletics hall of fame in 2004.
Follow reporter Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.