Tony Parker therefore entered the Hall Of Fame at the same time as his “second father” Gregg Popovich, and his “big sister” Becky Hammon. The current Las Vegas Aces coach completes this incredible 2023 vintage with an exceptional record as a player, but also as a coach. A true pioneer since she was the first woman to become an assistant in the NBA, but also to coach a meeting. For all this, she wanted to thank Gregg Popovich. In particular for having hired her for her skills, and not because she was a woman.
“Pop, I’m not going to look at you. You are a man of principle and excellence. I knew you weren’t trying to be brave when you hired me, but you did something no one in professional sports has ever done.” she reminded. “You show excellence, you demand excellence and you show how to become excellent, in your daily routine and in the way you work. You gave me courage with a phone call as I was about to coach my first summer league team in 2015. You said to me: “Be yourself, you will be great”. You changed the trajectory of my life, and of so many other girls and young women. »
“The male-female debate makes no sense. He’s a coach, it just happens to be a woman. That’s all. If it was a man, and more qualified, I would have hired a man”
In the room, Coach Pop’ is in tears, and we are headed for what he said when he appointed her assistant, to replace James Borrego.
“She is a unique woman, very unique. You know we promoted her again. She will now be on the bench, by my side. She will no longer be behind. She is on the bench because James Borrego took charge of Charlotte, so she replaces him. That is to say my esteem for her. he explained during his promotion. “She knows her job. She is confident. The male-female debate makes no sense. He’s a coach, it just happens to be a woman. That’s all. If it was a man, and more qualified, I would have hired a man. But she was that qualified, and that’s what I wanted. »
Read >>> Gregg Popovich’s speech
