Odds Released on Becky Hammon, Tim Duncan Becoming Next Head Coach of Spurs
By Robert Duff in NBA Basketball
Updated: April 8, 2020 at 5:25 pm EDTPublished:
- Odds offered on the chances of San Antonio Spurs assistant coaches Becky Hammon and Tim Duncan becoming the next head coach of the team
- Hammon is offered odds of +115 to eventually take over for Gregg Popovich
- Duncan is listed at odds of +300 to be the next head coach of the Spurs
Did San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich snub Becky Hammon by briefly handing the reins of the team to Tim Duncan? And if so, what does this mean for the chances of Hammon or Duncan eventually replacing Pop as the person in charge of the team on a permanent basis?
There are a pair of prop bets covering the odds on both Hammon and Duncan becoming the next head coach of the Spurs.
Popovich, 70, has coached the Spurs since the 1996-97 season. He’s led San Antonio to five NBA championships. Recently, rumors have surfaced that he’ll retire following the 2019-20 season.
Hammon, 42, was hired by the Spurs in 2014. She became the first full-time female assistant coach in NBA history.
A superstar Spur, Duncan, 43, joined Popovich’s coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2019.
Will Becky Hammon Be the Next Head Coach of the Spurs?
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +155 |
| No | -220 |
Odds taken November 21st
Only shooting coach Chip Engelland (15 years) has served longer on Popovich’s staff than Hammon. This is her sixth year with the Spurs. It’s Hammon’s second campaign as the lead assistant who sits directly next to Popovich on the San Antonio bench.
Just a reminder that Becky Hammon has an incredible Gregg Popovich upset impression pic.twitter.com/nNV0LowFBf
— dylan (@dylangonzalez21) November 17, 2019
Serving as head coach of the Spurs’ Las Vegas Summer League team in 2015, 2016 and 2019, Hammon ended up winning the title in 2015.
Hammon joined the San Antonio coaching staff after spending 14 seasons in the WNBA, including eight with the San Antonio Stars from 2007-14. She was named one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of all-time in July of 2011.
What Was Pop Thinking?
Many media outlets mistakenly reported on social media that Hammon was making history as the first female head coach in NBA history. This error came on Nov. 16 after Popovich was ejected from a game against the Portland TrailBlazers.
Gregg Popovich has been tossed with two techs against Blazers. Tim Duncan, Becky Hammon and Will Hardy working together to replace him for rest of game.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 17, 2019
Instead, the Spurs went with a coach-by-committee format. Hammon, Duncan and fellow assistant coach Will Hardy were working together, with Duncan calling the plays.
Asked after the game why he didn’t hand put Hammon in charge, Popovich bluntly stated, “I’m not here to make history.”
Popovich was asked if he considered having Becky Hammon take over to make history as the first woman to lead an NBA team.
“I’m not here to make history,” Popovich said.
(Vía @NBCSports ) pic.twitter.com/caMJtUgBal
— PlanetaNBA (@PlanetaNBA) November 17, 2019
Should people be reading this as an indication that Popovich is grooming Duncan to be the next head coach of the team? Or was it Popovich’s way of ensuring that when Hammon does make history as the NBA’s first female head coach, she’ll be doing so in an official capacity and not via an asterisk?
Will Tim Duncan Be the Next Head Coach of the Spurs?
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +300 |
| No | -500 |
Duncan spent his entire 19-season NBA career with the Spurs from 1997-2016. As a player, the power forward/center was a five-time NBA champion, a two-time MVP, and a three-time NBA Finals MVP.
As an assistant coach, Duncan has been on an NBA bench for all of 15 games.
After Pop was ejected, Tim Duncan takes over the huddle and the place is HYPE. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/vW4P37U8TY
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) November 17, 2019
Many major sports franchises are familiar with putting their team in the hands a legendary player, even if they’re absent of any coaching experience.
Based on their history, it’s doubtful that the Spurs would make such a move.
Duncan Pick: No (-500)
Who’s Got Next?
It’s been said of Hammon that she’s a great coach who also happens to be a woman. The NBA is known as the most progressive of the North American major pro sports leagues. Bill Russell was named the league’s first black head coach in 1966.
Hammon will be an NBA head coach. Will she be the next head coach of the Spurs? It depends upon who’s opinion you believe.
Gregg Popovich, asked about the possibility of a female head coach in the NBA: "There's no difference between a woman who knows the game and a man who knows the game. It's just another prejudice that probably has to be overcome. …"
— Howard Fendrich (@HowardFendrich) November 20, 2019
Published reports indicate that some NBA execs believe the rebuilding Spurs will appoint Hammon and allow to grow with the team. However, there’s also a school of thought among NBA front-office types that the Spurs will seek out someone with NBA head coaching experience to follow Popovich.
San Antonio seems more like a team that will do the former.
Hammon Pick: Yes (+155).
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
