SPURS’ ASSISTANT BECKY HAMMON MAKES HISTORY

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon made history Wednesday night by becoming the first woman to act as head coach during an NBA regular-season game.

Hammon took over the team after head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the first half of the Spurs’ 121-107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Popovich received a technical foul and was ejected from the game late in the second quarter as his team trailed the Lakers 52-41.

"He officially pointed at me. That was it. ... That was it," Hammon said. "Said, 'You got 'em,' and that was it. Very Pop-like."

Hammon is in her seventh season on the Spurs' coaching staff. She was a six-time All-Star in the WNBA with the New York Liberty and San Antonio Silver Stars prior to becoming a full-time assistant coach.

Hammon, 43, was named as a returning nominee to enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021.

While acknowledging the achievement in pushing gender norms as a pioneering woman in men's professional sports, Hammon admitted something was missing from the night.  "I would have loved to have walked out of there with the win with the guys," Hammon said.