Milwaukee Bucks will interview Becky Hammon for head coaching job

Milwaukee Bucks to interview Becky Hammon for head coaching job

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 22: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and Assistant Coach Becky Hammon in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Bucks can now fully focus on a search for a new head coach, and they plan to interview Becky Hammon.

Since being taken out of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics, the Milwaukee Bucks have ramped up their search for a permanent head coach. At least 10 candidates are on their list of candidates, and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski they will talk to San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon about the job.

Hammon became the first full-time female assistant coach in NBA history when Gregg Popovich hired her in 2014. She was a six-time WNBA All-Star over 16 seasons, and she is the eighth-leading scorer in league history. After becoming a naturalized citizen of Russia, Hammon represented that country in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. She will be the first woman to get an interview for an NBA head coaching job.

The Bucks previously had interest in Hammon just last year, but for their general manager opening despite the fact she has no front office experience. Despite not being considered a front runner for the head coaching job right now, according to Wojnarowski, general manager Jon Horst and Bucks’ ownership are sufficiently intrigued to have asked the Spurs for permission to speak with Hammon.

After Larry Eustachy’s messy exit from Colorado State, Hammon surfaced as a top candidate to take over the men’s program at her alma mater. But she withdrew from consideration fairly soon after that, as she surely keeps her eye on eventually becoming an NBA head coach.

This season’s turbulent situation with Kawhi Leonard, and the death of his wife more recently, may be pushing Popovich toward retirement. Hammon is easy to point to as his successor, and she will be the fourth Spurs’ assistant coach to interview for a head coaching job this spring.

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Even if they don’t hire her, and skeptics may see it as a token move, the Bucks deserve some credit for giving Hammon a head coaching interview. Perhaps she’s got some great ideas about how to fully unleash Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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