San Antonio (AFP)– Kinuha ng NBA champion San Antonio Spurs si Becky Hammon bilang assistant, upang maging ikalawang babae na napasama sa isang regular season coaching staff.

Ang 37-anyos na si Hammon ang unang babaeng coach mula nang tulungan ni Lisa Boyer ang Cleveland Cavaliers noong 2001-02. Nagtrabaho si Boyer bilang part-time coach, habang si Hammon ay papasok bilang full-time employee sa susunod na season.

“This is a great organization,” ani Hammon kahapon. “I am also a little overwhelmed right now to be perfectly honest. As great as this opportunity is, it is also incredibly humbling.”

Si Hammon ay naglalaro para sa San Antonio Stars sa Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) ngunit inanunsiyo na ang kanyang pagreretiro sa pagtatapos ng season.

Gumugol si Hammon ng 16 taon sa WNBA at ikapito sa kasaysayan sa puntos (5,809), ikaapat sa assists (1,687) at ikapito sa bilang ng laro (445).

“I look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff,” lahad ni Spurs head Gregg Popovich. “I am confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs.”

Nang tanungin tungkol sa kahalagahan ng pagiging ikalawa lamang na babaeng coach sa kasaysayan ng liga, sinabi ni Hammon, “the bigger point is that I am getting hired because I am capable. I am just thrilled for the opportunity to coach these unbelievable athletes.”

Dagdag ni Hammon, na naglalaro bilang point guard, na dati pa niyang nais na makaangat sa coaching oras na tapusin ang playing career.

“There has been a tremendous amount of time in film sessions and game planning so I am comfortable with my basketball IQ. Coaching just comes naturally to me. This is obviously a huge opportunity,” aniya.

Si Hammon, isang six-time WNBA All-Star, ay ginugol ang huling walong seasons sa Stars matapos na hindi makuha noong 1999 draft at inilaro ang unang walong taon ng kanyang career sa New York Liberty.

Siya ang all-time leader ng Stars sa assists (1,112) at nagawang three-point field goals (493) habang pumangalawa naman sa franchise history pagdating sa puntos (3,442) at laro (218).

Sa kanyang WNBA career, naglista si Hammon ng averages na 13.1 puntos, 3.8 assists, at 2.5 rebounds.