Gervin, Silas, Robinson, Elliott, Johnson, Bowen, Duncan, Ginoblii, Parker.
Hammon.
As in Becky Hammon.
Six-time WNBA All-Star, two time All-WNBA First Team, WNBA All Time assists leader, WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All-Time member, Olympian and the NBA’s First Full Time Female assistant coach.
Becky Hammon, a Pioneer. With a smooth jump shot to boot.
Becky’s Number 25 was retired by San Antonio Stars in 2008. It hangs caddy corner to those household names like the Big 3 and the Iceman up in the rafters at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Spurs dynasty over the last two decades is well documented, recognized and celebrated not only in South Texas but throughout the NBA landscape, and rightfully so. It was legendary.
You know what else is legendary?
Becky Hammon.
And not because she was a baller on the court, or because she has her jersey on display next to my boy Sean Elliot’s.
But because Becky Hammon is going to lead my Spurs to their next title. Not as an assistant, not as a play caller or even a backup point guard.
As the Head Coach.
The skipper.
Commander in Chief.
El Jefe.
You damn right.
Becky Hammon is going to take the torch from Pop, which can’t come soon enough. When that happens, she will become the First ever NBA Head Coach who happens to be a female.
Like I said, Pioneer.
There is however much more to all of it.
There are things that people will demand be addressed.
NBA analysts will undoubtably ask “show me the qualifications”, and we will of course have that Pod Cast Sports Show hate because they do not feel she belongs in such a position of stature in the National Basketball Association, for a variety of reasons.
The analysts, commentators and sports debate shows will get the answers on qualifications, and how Number 25s promotion is absolutely warranted when that time comes.
Becky Hammon has the resume. Facts are all over the place that will be referenced when these concerns come up to support it.
This move makes sense, it is difficult to argue that it does not.
With that said, as a Spurs diehard, there is one very important piece to this that needs to be brought to light.
How do we as a community, in all togetherness know for sure this is the fit and are comfortable with it?
To San Antonio, the Spurs are family. For us, there needs to be that final selling point, the cherry on top.
We will need that warm and fuzzy, we will need that re assurance, we will need a sign that Ham is the one to lead our Silver and Black. How will we know for sure?
Because Becky Hammon IS San Antonio folks.
In 2005, San Antonio won its third NBA title over Detroit in a thrilling seven game series. Seattle, Phoenix and others were disposed of as the Spurs moved through the stacked western conference playoffs.
In 2007, my Spurs brought home the Larry Obrien trophy for the fourth time in franchise history which cemented the Spurs as a dynasty. A year later, San Antonio was dismissed by the Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, ending the 08 bid for back to back ships.
Do you know who else was battling Los Angeles in playoff basketball back in 2008?
You guessed it.
Becky Hammon.
As a guard on the WNBA San Antonio Silver Stars, Hammon led the team on an epic playoff run in 2008, reaching the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Along the way, Hamon and the Stars took out teams named Seattle & Los Angeles. In the Finals, the Stars took on Detroit.
Do you see the connection yet?
Because I sure as shit do, gives me chill bumps thinking about it.
Becky led the Stars to the Finals one year after the Spurs got that fourth ring. She embraced the City and its fan base…just like the Spurs.
Becky beat LA, Seattle and played Detroit on the biggest stage…. just like the Spurs. In the same building, with the same fans while wearing the same color uniform.
Game one of the Finals in the AT&T Center might as well have been a Spurs Finals game. A packed house, loud, rowdy fans backing the Stars. WNBA Basketball. GO STARS GO. All of it, the whole enchilada.
In the fourth quarter of that game, Becky Hammon made a jaw dropping finger roll and one bucket.
The type of play is what is important here because it looked almost identical to the Ice Man himself.
I mean this shot Ham makes is just nasty, but so damn smooth at the same time. Absolutely ice cold. In crunch time. Finger. Role.
The journey through those 08 playoffs was laced with Becky Hammon no look passes, circus style and one buckets, like the finger roll in the Finals, and crazy buzzer beater threes. Her game is so fundamentally sound that you don’t expect to see these fireworks, at least not when Timmy, The Big Fundamental” himself calls San Antonio home.
But you do. You get both.
In the Western Conference Finals against the LA Sparks, Hammon sent Lisa Leslie and company packing by dropping 35 points and sinking two crucial free throws in the final minutes of the deciding game 3, in Los Angeles, to punch their ticket to the WNBA Finals. One of the all-time clutch performances in WNBA Playoff history. Go back and watch it, I think you will agree. Just gutty. Sheer determination.
That performance from Becky was a follow up to game 2, where she rallied the Stars after blowing atasty 14-point lead with a 67-66 last second victory. Sophia Young delivered a 15 ft turnaround shot to seal it, getting open due to heavy defense on Hammon. Becky took the double team knowing that it would leave Sophia open. Talk about another great jump shot, Youngs fade away was a staple for this Stars team. Story for another day….
So, you are saying that 25 is also a team player? Hell. Yes. She wants to win. For her, It’s about the team, not individual gain.
The Stars ultimately lost that WNBA Finals to Detroit, and the Team has since re located to Las Vegas.
But Becky is still here. That flashy guard for The Stars has grown into an assistant coach on The Spurs. Ham stayed home.
Reliable. Unselfish. Humble. Flashy and Pure.
Clutch. Leader. Teammate. Loyal and True.
Pioneer.
Becky Hammon IS San Antonio.
KP Sports 