Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wondered why anyone was surprised when he handed the team over to Becky Hammon following his ejection Wednesday night. "She earned it. She is qualified. She s wonderful at what she does," he said Friday.
/
X02835
San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon questions a call from official Derek Richardson (63) in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at AT&T Center on Dec. 30. You got em with that brief handover, Becky Hammon became the first woman to coach an NBA team Wednesday night, leading the San Antonio Spurs after coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the first half. Obviously, it s a big deal. It s a substantial moment, Hammon said after the game. She noted that she has worked toward the milestone for years, spending more than a decade in San Antonio as either a player or a coach.