Becky Hammon

Becky Hammon And JJ Redick Among Raptors Coach Candidates

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The Toronto Raptors are in search of a new head coach after parting ways with Nick Nurse. Nurse coached the Raptors to an NBA title but couldn’t replicate the success in subsequent seasons. The Raptors’ front office described the decision as “an opportunity for us to reset, to refocus, to put into place the personnel and the players who will help us reach our goal of winning our next championship.”

The Raptors are conducting a deep search, considering candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka was reportedly a serious contender for the role at the time of Nurse’s firing. However, he has now more strongly linked with the Houston Rockets’ vacancy. Two names who have reportedly interviewed with the Raptors, however, are Becky Hammon and JJ Redick.

Raptors Considering Hammon, Reddick

DENVER, CO – APRIL 05: Assistant coach Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs and head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs look on against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena on April 5, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)

Becky Hammon is a women’s basketball legend. Going undrafted in 1999 after a productive career at Colorado State, Hammon quickly became a WNBA fixture. While never winning a title, she was a key contributor for the New York Liberty and San Antonio Stars. After she retired in 2012, she joined the coaching staff of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. She spent eight seasons with the Spurs before leaving to take the head coach position with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces in 2022. She led the Aces to the 2022 title.

DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 26: JJ Redick announces the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on October 26, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

JJ Redick was a Duke basketball standout who enjoyed a productive 15-year career in the NBA. Selected 11th overall in the 2006 draft, he spent seven years with the Magic. After the Magic, he spent time with the Bucks, Clippers, Sixers, Pelicans, and Mavericks before retiring in 2021. After retiring, Redick joined the ESPN broadcast team. However, Redick has no formal coaching experience at any level of the game. However, he and Hammon are just two of many candidates the Raptors are considering.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Wade, Nowitzki, Popovich, Hammon Among Finalists for 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame Class

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wade

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the selection of five coaches and seven players as Finalists from the North American and Women’s Screening committees for NBA All-Star Weekend 2023. The Finalists will subsequently be presented to the Honors Committee for consideration as members of the Class of 2023.

The North American Committee finalists feature Gene Bess, Pau Gasol, David Hixon, Gene Keady, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, and Dwyane Wade. The Women’s Committee finalists feature Jennifer Azzi, Gary Blair, Becky Hammon, and Marian Washington.

“Eleven first-time nominees make up this historic group of Class of 2023 finalists,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “It is an incredible honor to be named a Finalist for the Hall of Fame, and their recognition as a Finalist is evidence of the legendary accomplishments and dominance shown throughout their careers. The Class of 2023 will be remembered as one of the most distinguished classes the Hall of Fame will ever see, and we are extremely excited for this unparalleled collection of talent and achievement to be one step closer to Springfield.

“The Class of 2023 will be remembered as one of the most distinguished classes the Hall of Fame will ever see, and we are extremely excited for this unparalleled collection of talent and achievement to be one step closer to Springfield.”

The full Class of 2023 will be announced as part of the Hall of Fame Class Announcement on April 1 at 11:00 a.m. ET at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Houston. Possible Enshrinees selected by the Direct Elect Committees may also be honored at the NCAA Men’s Final Four. The Class of 2023 will be inducted on August 11-12 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Cradle of Basketball.

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