Spurs hire Hammon as first woman asst. in NBA history

The Spurs hired WNBA star Becky Hammon on Tuesday, making her the first fulltime, paid female assistant on an NBA coaching staff.

Hammon, who plans to retire from the San Antonio Stars after this season, spent time working with coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs last season and made a strong impression on an organization with a history of forwardthinking moves.

During the 200102 season, Cavaliers coach John Lucas brought Lisa Boyer into the team’s practices and some games. Boyer, now an assistant at South Carolina, was not paid by the Cavaliers and did not travel with the team, but did work with the players and coaches that season.

Last season, Hammon attended Spurs practices, film sessions and sat behind the bench for the NBA champions at home games. She has been friends with Spurs teammates Tony Parker and Tim Duncan since competing in an NBA AllStar shooting competition in 2008.

“I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff,” Popovich said. “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.”

“Nothing in my life has really ever been easy. I’ve always been someone who did it uphill,” Hammon said. “I’m up for challenges. I’m up for being outside the box, making tough decisions and challenges. ... And I’m a little bit of an adrenaline junkie Throw those all in there and this was the perfect challenge and opportunity.”