Post by clayk on Jan 3, 2022 11:28:27 GMT -5
Interesting that there has been little comment about Hammon's choice in terms of the NBA and women's basketball ...
First, it seems to me that Hammon did the math and realized her chances of getting an NBA job where she had a chance to succeed were very low. No owner would bring in a woman to coach a team with postseason potential, if only because of the PR backlash if it didn't work. (And people in the league have told me a significant percentage of players would simply not listen to a woman.)
So Hammon's only shot would be with a bad team that would use her hiring as a deflection from the real issue that the team was awful. That's a bad outcome for her and for women coaching men down the road.
Second, an interesting choice to give up a lucrative and high-profile position in the best league in the world to become a head coach. I can understand -- as a long-time assistant -- wanting your own program, but even with the money, this is a step back for Hammon professionally. And it's a high-risk move as well, because the pressure is on her to succeed. And though she's obviously a good coach, so are a lot of coaches in the WNBA, and if the Aces struggle, her move to the W will look even worse.
Third, Laimbeer's move off the bench makes sense. He didn't seem that invested this year, and he's pretty much done all he can do at the WNBA level and as a coach. His ambitions, like Hammon's, were in the NBA, but it never worked out.
Finally, all eyes will be on Hammon and the Aces this summer. So will it better for the league for the Aces to do really well and highlight Hammon and her NBA potential, or for the Aces to be good but not great, which would highlight the caliber of play in the league.
First, it seems to me that Hammon did the math and realized her chances of getting an NBA job where she had a chance to succeed were very low. No owner would bring in a woman to coach a team with postseason potential, if only because of the PR backlash if it didn't work. (And people in the league have told me a significant percentage of players would simply not listen to a woman.)
So Hammon's only shot would be with a bad team that would use her hiring as a deflection from the real issue that the team was awful. That's a bad outcome for her and for women coaching men down the road.
Second, an interesting choice to give up a lucrative and high-profile position in the best league in the world to become a head coach. I can understand -- as a long-time assistant -- wanting your own program, but even with the money, this is a step back for Hammon professionally. And it's a high-risk move as well, because the pressure is on her to succeed. And though she's obviously a good coach, so are a lot of coaches in the WNBA, and if the Aces struggle, her move to the W will look even worse.
Third, Laimbeer's move off the bench makes sense. He didn't seem that invested this year, and he's pretty much done all he can do at the WNBA level and as a coach. His ambitions, like Hammon's, were in the NBA, but it never worked out.
Finally, all eyes will be on Hammon and the Aces this summer. So will it better for the league for the Aces to do really well and highlight Hammon and her NBA potential, or for the Aces to be good but not great, which would highlight the caliber of play in the league.
