Willie Green should be named head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans shortly according to Adrian Wojnarowski d’ESPN. It is undoubtedly deserved, given the importance of the former 39-year-old player in the staff of Monty Williams at the Phoenix Suns. On the other hand, this future appointment probably puts the last nail in the coffin of hopes of seeing a full-time female head coach in the NBA for the first time.
A few weeks ago, when no less than 7 positions had become available, it was rumored that Becky Hammon and Teresa Weatherspoon, two WNBA legends already employed in NBA staffs (San Antonio for Hammon, New Orleans for “T-Spoon”) were well placed on some of these vacant jobs. Weatherspoon imagined he was entitled to a promotion after Stan Van Gundy left, for example.
The first was preceded by Chauncey Billups in the race to succeed Terry Stotts in Portland despite two interviews. The second, very close to Zion Williamson, who is full of praise for her, also looks set to fail.
Two women in the Blazers shortlist, this time it’s the right one?
Obviously, one can wonder if the franchises in question (Portland and New Orleans are not the only ones) did not do “women washing” by including female candidates to give themselves a good image. If Weatherspoon only joined the Pelicans in 2020, Hammon has served in Gregg Popovich’s staff for 7 years and is unanimous among the players with whom she has collaborated in San Antonio.
Once the choice of Willie Green has been validated by the Pelicans, there will only be one vacant head coach position in the NBA, that of the Washington Wizards.
As a reminder, the franchises that have chosen to change direction have appointed the following coaches: Ime Udoka (Boston), Chauncey Billups (Portland), Jason Kidd (Dallas), Rick Carlisle (Indiana) and Jamahl Mosley (Orlando).
The Spurs are bad publicity to Becky Hammon, everything is explained …
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