Hammon, Staley, Barry Added To List of Blazers Coaching Candidates

The Athletic’a Shams Charania has shed further light on the Portland Trail Blazers coaching search, adding two women to a list that already includes Chauncey Billups and Mike D’Antoni.

San Antonio Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon and University of South Carolina/USA Women’s Coach Dawn Staley are in the running to become the NBA’s first permanent female head coaches.

Hammon is already expected to receive an interview.

Sharania also added two-time NBA champion and Spurs Vice President of Basketball Operations Brent Barry to a list, which already includes Los Angeles Clippers Assistant Chauncey Billups and Brooklyn Nets Assistant Mike D’Antoni.

Hammon became the first NBA Head Coach this season after Gregg Popovich was ejected from a game on December 30, 2020. She enjoyed a decorated playing career, earning six All Star honors with the San Antonio Stars and was also named one of the 15 greatest WNBA players of all time. Hammon joined the Spurs coaching staff in 2014 and has been widely suggested as the likely successor to Popovich.

Staley was a six-time All Star with the Charlotte Sting and Houston Comets and also considered one of of the 15 greatest WNBA players of all time. Since 2000, she has coached Temple University and the University of South Carolina women’s teams while also taking the reins as USA Women’s national head coach since 2017.

Brent Barry spent 14 years in the NBA between 1995 and 2009, playing with the Clippers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Seattle Supersonics, Spurs (where he was part of the 2005 and 2007 championship teams) and the Houston Rockets. Post-playing career, he has spent time as an NBA analyst and currently works in the Spurs front office.

Billups’ and D’Antoni’s candidacies have already been mentioned by multiple sources.