Becky Hammon is an American and Russian basketball player and assistant coach in the National Basketball Association. She is currently retired. Having received Russian citizenship in 2008, she twice represented the Russian team at the Olympic Games.
Biography
Becky Hammon was born March 11, 1977 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Has dual citizenship: from birth - a citizen of the United States, since 2008 - a citizen of Russia.
She started playing basketball at an early age, playing with her older brother Matt and her father. Thanks to them, the girl received her first skills in this sport. In addition, Becky has a sister, Gina.
She was raised as a devout peasant woman.
Becky Hammon went to Stevens High School where she continued to play basketball. She was named Miss South Dakota Basketball at an early age. At an older age, the girl became the player of the year.
She graduated in 1995.
Despite the fact that many were amazed by her basketball skills, to become a professional athleteshe did not succeed immediately. At first, local coaches considered her too young and slow. She was later spotted by an assistant coach at Colorado State who helped her move forward and become world famous.
Career
The history of Becky Hammon began after winning the women's team of the University of Colorado, when she became the athlete of the year. Their team won with a score of 33:3. She then defeated the best WAC player - Keith Van Horn from the University of Utah.
Becca has been a member of the New York Liberty basketball team since 1999.
In 2004, Hammon entered the Sports Hall of Fame at Colorado State University, signing a contract. But she managed to play in the Colorado team only 2 times due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in her right knee, received a year earlier.
In 2008, the athlete receives Russian citizenship, and then represents the country at the Beijing Olympics.
The decision to play for the Russian national team was not easy for the girl. In the United States, she was considered a traitor and questioned her patriotism. However, Becky protested that none of this makes sense - she loves the country she grew up in and people just misunderstand the word "patriot". According to the girl, she played for Russia in order to get the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games, but it was not about money at all. While a gold medal would bring her $250,000, a silver medal would earn her $150,000.
US National Coach Ann Donovan was initially skeptical of Becky's decisionjoin Russia, but then changed her mind. She said that for Hammon it was a great decision, and she no longer holds a grudge against the girl.
Becky played for Russia at the European Women's Basketball Championship in 2009 and 2010, as well as at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Becky played for the Silver Star. Thanks to her, the team broke the record and won several victories.
The athlete also aspired to be a professional coach after finishing basketball. During her injury, she was unable to play for some time, so she attended coaching meetings and games where she was often asked to give her opinion.
In 2014, Becky Hammon was hired as an assistant coach for the Spurs. She became the second female coach in NBA history. Her work impressed professional American basketball coach Gregg Popovich. He later admitted that he was amazed at Becky's sociability, intelligence and professionalism and was impatient to see her as a coach of the Spurs.
In 2015, Becky Hammon officially became the first ever female NBA Summer League coach.
In 2017, she was interviewed for the position of General Director of the American basketball team Milwaukee Bucks.
Private life
Becky Hammon loves hunting and fishing. She loves to spend time with her family hunting in the forest. The basketball player loves music and often sings, and also knows how to play percussion instruments. Before the match, Becky listens to songsWhitney Houston.
In one of her interviews, the girl admitted that a sports career does not give a chance for a personal life, because she has absolutely no time for this.
Also, the athlete said that she has not been able to learn Russian yet.
Awards
Becky Hammon has received numerous awards for her brilliant achievements in her basketball career. For example, she received the annual Frances Pomeroy Naismith Student Award from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association for being the best player.
Becky about Russia
According to the girl, she really likes Russia, and she is grateful for the chance to play for our team at the Olympic Games and win bronze. Moreover, in the team she had excellent relations with other athletes, so Becky wants to continue playing for Russia. In the United States, she was put under some pressure, considering her a spy, but Hammon managed to prove that all this was a lie. The athlete is currently studying Russian diligently, she wants to speak it fluently in the future.
