I grew up just outside of Barcelona. My parents were both successful professionals. My dad worked as a nurse, and my mom was a doctor. So, it made sense that I leaned toward science. After finishing high school, I even started medical school and completed a year before switching paths and focusing fully on basketball. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I’d continued in medicine and followed the same career path they did.
One thing I remember clearly is how often people assumed my dad was the doctor and my mom the nurse. It happened way more often than it should have. But to me, my mom being a doctor was totally normal. And I had just as much respect for my dad’s career. I knew he worked hard and loved what he did. But I also knew my mom had gotten into a tougher program, and her job came with more responsibility. That was just how it was. It didn’t feel strange or unfair – it was just the reality, and we didn’t make a big deal out of it.
My brothers and I grew up really looking up to the example our parents set.
Now, as an adult who’s thinking about becoming a parent myself someday, I appreciate even more how lucky I was to be raised with that mindset. It taught me that what matters most isn’t whether you fit a certain image for a job – it’s whether you’re actually good at it.
In 37 years, I’ve never once thought of my mom as a “female” doctor.
To me, she’s always just been a doctor.
And a really great one, too.
The reason I wanted to start by talking about my parents is because their story makes me think about the NBA right now. Specifically, how in the league’s 72-year history, we’ve never seen a woman become a head coach. And even more specifically, it reminds me of Becky Hammon – a coach people have been talking about a lot lately, and someone I’ve been lucky enough to play for in San Antonio.
But just so we’re clear, I’m not writing this to convince you that Becky should be a head coach in the NBA. That part’s obvious. She was a top-level player with a great mind for basketball, especially as a point guard. And she’s been a strong assistant coach under probably the greatest coach in the game. What else do you need? Like I said, I’m not here to make that case. Honestly, trying to prove she’s qualified feels a little disrespectful. It would actually be weird to me if NBA teams weren’t seriously interested in hiring her.
What I do want to do is push back on some of the ridiculous arguments I’ve heard against her – or against the idea of a woman being a head coach in the NBA at all.
One of the most common things I’ve heard is also the easiest to shut down. It’s this idea that women can coach women’s basketball or the WNBA just fine, but that the NBA is somehow different. That at the highest level of the game, a woman just can’t lead a group of male players.
Let me tell you right now: if you say that to someone who’s played real, high-level basketball, you’re going to sound clueless. And honestly, I have a pretty simple reply. I’ve been in the NBA for 17 years. I’ve won two titles. I’ve played with some of the best of my generation. I’ve been coached by legends like Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich. And I can tell you this – Becky Hammon can coach. I don’t mean she’s decent, or okay, or close to being as good as male coaches. I mean, she can coach at the NBA level. No doubt.
Let me give you a quick example. A few months ago, at practice, Dejounte Murray and I were working on pick-and-roll drills. It was just him and me at one basket. I’d set a screen, then either pop out for a shot or roll to the rim. If I popped, he’d throw a chest pass. If I rolled, he’d bounce it. Simple stuff – we do it all the time.
But during this drill, Becky stopped us right in the middle. She, Coach Borrego, and Coach Messina walked over, and Becky said, “D.J., O.K. – your bounce pass? It’s too low. You’ve got to hit Pau exactly where he needs it. Run that again.” Then we all had a quick talk about how the pass needed to be sharper and better placed, so I’d have a good chance to finish the play. We ran it a few more times from both sides of the court, and of course, Dejounte figured it out quickly. But that moment stuck with me.
It showed just how sharp Becky’s basketball IQ really is. She spotted a small issue instantly, then pointed it out, explained it clearly, and helped us fix it right away. And more than that, we were able to talk it out and make it work in a smooth, effective way. It reminded me how key good communication is in this league. And honestly, I don’t think I missed another pass like that the rest of the season.
There’s another argument I’ve seen people throw out – and it might be even more ridiculous. It’s the idea that Becky only got her role with the Spurs because it looked good for public relations.
Really?
Come on.
This is the NBA we’re talking about. A league where huge money is on the line and teams don’t have time for anyone who’s not bringing real value. And we’re talking about the Spurs here – one of the most respected franchises in the league. This is the same organization that developed guys like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili, and Tony Parker. All Hall of Famers. It’s a team that won more than 50 games for 18 straight seasons and picked up five championships in two decades.
This team doesn’t do things for publicity. They do things because they work. And Becky Hammon is part of that system because she can coach – really coach.
Would you really think Coach Pop would approach coaching his staff any differently than how he develops his players? No way.
Pop has one goal in mind with everything he does – and it’s not about looking good in the media.
It’s about winning. And doing it the Spurs Way.
O.K. – there’s one more thing I want to bring up. It sounds so ridiculous that I almost didn’t mention it. But in a way, I think it’s important. It says something about the league as a whole, and honestly, it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.
It’s the idea that having a woman as a head coach in the NBA would somehow create “awkwardness in the locker room.”
Maybe that already sounds as dumb to you as it does to me. And yeah, it is ridiculous. But I still think we should talk about it seriously for a second, just to show how strange it is that this even comes up in a real conversation.
First, let’s address the idea. It’s completely made up. Come on. What are we even talking about? Players have their area to change; coaches have their own area. That’s it. And yes, obviously, Becky has her own space, just like any coach would. But the important thing here is this: no one’s acting like male coaches are changing with the players in the locker room either. That’s not how it works. So, based on over 15 years in this league, I can tell you without hesitation – this argument is nonsense. In terms of the locker room or anything happening behind closed doors, there’s no real difference whether your head coach is a man or a woman.
But what really bothers me about hearing people bring this up is what it says on a deeper level. It shows how some still believe that, even as the world grows more open and aware, sports should somehow be left behind. It’s like some people want to believe that sports are this last place where it’s still fine to be stuck in the past, where outdated thinking is accepted. And if players have something to say about how things work or what needs to change, we’re told to “stick to sports.”
So when I hear jokes or actual arguments saying a woman can’t be an NBA head coach because of locker room issues or whatever, it reminds me that yes, we’ve made progress – but we’re still not all the way there. Let’s not pretend we’re ahead of the curve just because we’ve come a long way. Because the truth is, most industries around the world are now focused on improving gender equality and being more inclusive. It’s expected. And it’s the right thing to do.
But then there’s this idea that the NBA should get a pass – that we don’t need to keep up because hey, we’re just sports?
That’s not good enough.
I hope the NBA doesn’t settle for being seen as progressive “for a sports league.” We should aim to be progressive like any other leading industry. Full stop.
Last week, not sure if you caught it, but the Suns made history by hiring Igor Kokoškov – the first head coach in the NBA who was born in Europe.
For the league, this was a great moment. But for me personally… it hit deeper. It brought back a lot of memories. I was drafted 17 years ago, and I still remember the reactions at the time. People were saying things like, No way you take a European player at No. 3. That’s crazy. Some thought maybe late in the first round was okay. They admitted I had skill. But top five? That’s where you’re supposed to get a franchise star. Someone with that tough mindset, a real leader. And Europeans? They’re too soft, man. No chance you use a top-three pick on a Euro guy.
But the Spurs did take me at No. 3. Now, it’s normal to see European players picked high in the draft. No one bats an eye. This year, with Luka Dončić, who knows? We could see another top pick come from Europe.
It’s been the same kind of journey with coaches. At first, no NBA teams were hiring international assistants. But slowly, the more forward-thinking teams started adding them. Those teams found success, and others followed. Now, Igor has earned a head coaching role.
I’m not saying Igor’s situation is the same as Becky’s. They’re different. But it’s great to see the NBA reflect the world more and more. Because the world is huge. And every time we open ourselves to new perspectives and new voices, we grow. As people and as a league.
That’s why I’m proud of where the NBA is headed. I’ve seen this league step up on major issues. Whether it’s supporting Black Lives Matter, or seeing players like DeMar and Kevin open up about mental health, or watching Adam Silver march in a pride parade – it all matters. Or when stars like Steph and LeBron keep using their platforms to speak out about what they believe in. And yes, when a team like the Bucks makes the effort to interview a coaching candidate, man or woman, based purely on qualifications.
This league is filled with those moments now, and it really makes me proud. Because to me, this league is like a family. And with family, you can be real. You can hold each other accountable. You say the hard stuff because you care.
So, what I’d say to my NBA family is this: Let’s keep it going. Let’s stay proud of the progress we’ve made.
But let’s also not think we’re done.
One march doesn’t fix racial injustice. One pride event doesn’t mean we’ve done enough for the LGBTQ+ community. And one interview doesn’t mean we’ve solved the issue of gender inclusion in leadership roles.
A league that’s okay with being average might look at these steps and say, We did it. That’s enough. But the NBA isn’t average.
It’s special.
And a great league, in my view, looks at where we are and says, We’ve done good things. We’ve moved forward. But there’s more to do. A great league says, Yes, we’re on the right path – but we haven’t reached the end yet.
Mary Watson
