SAN ANTONIO – The Becky Hammon coaching buzz has picked up in recent weeks as more NBA head coaching jobs have become available in recent weeks.
The Indiana Pacers were the latest franchise to let go of their head coach when the franchise decided on Wednesday to move on from Nate Bjorkgren after just one season.
According to Sportsbetting.ag, Hammon is listed as the third favorite to land the Pacers job. The longtime Spurs assistant coach is listed at 6/1 odds, but the current favorite for the Indiana position is former Portland head coach Terry Stotts.
Stotts was fired after nine seasons with the Trail Blazers. The current favorite for the Blazers job is Chauncey Billups. Hammon is also listed as the fifth favorite for the Orlando Magic position at 7/1 odds.
Here's the latest odds from @SportsBettingAG on Spurs assistant Becky Hammon possibly getting an NBA head coaching job this offseason.
— RJ Marquez (@KSATRJ) June 10, 2021
She's now listed as the third favorite for the Pacers job and fifth favorite for the Magic gig. #GoSpursGo #NBA #KSATsports pic.twitter.com/VXZv7P9Gdq
Earlier this season, Hammon became the first woman ever to be the head coach of a men’s US professional sports team when she coached the Spurs in a regular season game in late December.
During a recent interview with NBC News, Hammon said she is ready to be an NBA head coach if she is given the chance.
“This ball is never moving fast enough in my opinion. People don’t like doing something new and different. It’s uncomfortable. It takes a massive amount of risk. Somebody is going to have to take a chance,” Hammon told NBC News. “In some ways, I feel like it could be in a year. In other ways, it could be 10 years. I’m not really sure, (but) I’ll be ready.”
Boston Celtics insider Chris Forsberg recently posted a column where he wrote the franchise could make a statement by hiring a woman to be its next head coach, either Hammon or Kara Lawson. Lawson was an assistant coach in Boston and is now the head coach of the Duke women’s basketball team.
Brad Stevens is hiring his own replacement in Boston and recently told reporters Hammon was a terrific candidate who is respected across the league.
Hammon has been an assistant coach with the Spurs since August 2014. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has not given any indication he will not return for his 26th season as San Antonio’s head coach.
During Women’s History Month in March, KSAT-12 profiled Hammon’s journey from South Dakota to the San Antonio Spurs. You can watch read about her journey here and watch in the video player below.
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WATCH: Spurs players, former assistant coach Borrego reflect on Becky Hammon becoming first women to coach NBA team in regular season: