Hammon came over at 3:56 in the second quarter of the Spurs’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers won the game 121-107.
“Obviously, it’s a big deal. It’s an important moment,” Hammon told reporters. “I’ve been part of this organization. I traded here in 2007 (when I was in the WNBA), so I’ve been in San Antonio for 13 years and part of the Spurs and sports organization with the Stars and all. So I have invested a lot of time and they invested a lot of time in me to build me up and make me better.
Honestly, at this point I was just trying to win the game. I say this a lot, but I try not to think about the huge picture and the huge aspect of it because it can get overwhelming. My job is to get into it. there to be focused on those guys and make sure I help them do the things that will help us win.
“I really haven’t had time to think. I haven’t checked my phone, so I have no idea what’s going on outside AT&T Center tonight.”
Hammon said she didn’t walk into the arena thinking she was going to be the head coach, “but that’s how things go and you roll with it,” she said. “I would have liked a different outcome. All in all, I would rather have won tonight than anything else.”
Popovich will be listed as head coach in official statistics, but it was a historic moment. How did Hammon find out she would take over from Popovich? “He officially pointed at me,” she said. ‘That was it. He said, ‘You have them. ” ‘
A six-time WNBA All-Star in her 16-year playing career, Hammon was the first full-time female assistant coach in NBA history when she was hired by the Spurs in 2014. She was previously the Spurs’ head coach during the summer. Competition, which is held during the off season.
Hammon has again been nominated to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, for the class of 2021. Popovich was asked about this before Wednesday’s game, as well as his thoughts on Hammon’s playing days and coaching career.
“Obviously I think a lot of her abilities she hired her. It all started when I saw her play,” said Popovich.
“She was a leader, everyone on the team responded to her, she was very confident, very competitive and she ran the whole show. And when I got to know her, she was in our coaches’ meetings before she was hired, while she been hurt for a season, we found out about her talent for the game, her innate understanding of what wins, what loses, what it takes to make a show.
“So she has all the tools necessary to become a great coach in our league.”
Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray said after the game: “The future looks bright for her. I hope she just hangs on to it and doesn’t give up. One day it could happen, maybe it won’t, who knows, but she is definitely on the right path. I think everyone here appreciates her … She sets an example for every woman out there. “