One of the most controversial topics in the NBA today is whether women should be allowed to coach a team in the NBA. Currently there are eleven women in the NBA who are assistant coaches. No woman has yet to be named head coach of an NBA team.
One woman who has been a trailblazer for women coaches in the NBA is Becky Hammon, the assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs. After Hammon’s successful career in the WNBA, she decided to turn to coaching. Head coach of the Spurs Gregg Popovich knew Hammon would be perfect for this role. Hammon says “Pop didn’t just hand me an opportunity; it wasn’t about bringing a girl on board. It’s about that person fitting with the group.” What Hammon and Pop are trying to say here is that hiring a coach should have nothing to do with the gender of the coach and everything to do with the qualifications, experience, and how well that coach can fit into the specific team dynamic.
Therefore, if a woman applies for a coaching job and can create this positive team culture and integrate into the team better than men candidates, then she should be the coach of that team. Women are not asking for a handout; they are asking for the NBA to put this ongoing gender bias aside and choose them if they are the best candidate for the job.
Anna M.
Sport, Not Games ⚽ 