Hammon is the first woman to serve as an assistant coach in NBA history NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Basketball HOFer Nancy Lieberman feels that a version of the NFL's Rooney Rule "should be extended to the NBA and also include a provision for interviewing women," according to Katherine Fitzgerald of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Speaking on Friday at the Jerry Colangelo Basketball HOF Golf Classic, Lieberman said, "The Rooney Rule is about equality. So we need a rule in the NBA that’s about equality. Just interview us" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/12).
READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT? In Milwaukee, Gary D'Amato wrote Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon is "qualified to interview with the Bucks," but this is the "wrong team and the wrong time for her to get the job." If it were "solely about marketing, you could justify hiring her." The Bucks, though, "aren’t a team desperate for something to hype." They are a "player or two away from becoming a serious contender, they’re moving into a new arena and they’ve got one of the biggest stars in the game" in F Giannis Antetokounmpo. What they need is an "experienced coach with a strong personality to get them to the next level." D'Amato: "I’m not saying Hammon can’t be that person. I’m saying it’s too big a risk to find out whether she is or isn’t" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/12). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour wrote under the header, "Becky Hammon's Hiring As NBA Coach Will Send An Important Message -- To Men" (USATODAY.com, 5/11).
WORLD VIEW: In an essay written for THE PLAYERS' TRIBUNE, Spurs C Pau Gasol wrote, "It’s this beautiful thing, you know, to see the NBA begin to reflect the larger world. Because it’s such a big world, isn’t it? And I think any time you can expand your horizons, toward something new and meaningful … it can only make you a better person." He added, "I’m so encouraged to see this league taking the lead on so many important issues. I see it when we’re coming together over something as urgent as Black Lives Matter … I see it when guys like DeMar [DeRozan] and Kevin [Love] are being vocal and open about emotional wellbeing … I see it when Adam Silver, our commissioner, is marching in an LGBTQ pride parade … I see it when MVPs like Steph [Curry] and LeBron [James] keep showing the world that nobody is too famous to use their platform to stand up for what they believe in … and of course I see it when a franchise like the Bucks is willing to give an interview for their head-coaching vacancy to a candidate who -- male or female -- absolutely deserves it (THEPLAYERSTRIBUNE.com, 5/11).
