Chicago Bulls: 3 surprise candidates who could be next HC

3) Chicago Bulls surprise head coaching targets: Becky Hammon

This is a name that is going to pop up on just about every head coaching candidate shortlist that exists around the NBA this offseason. Current San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon seems to be destined to land a head coaching job someday, even if it is to be once legendary head coach Gregg Popvich retires.

Hammon is a long-time New York Liberty and San Antonio Silver star from the WNBA. She was a six-time WNBA All-Star selection that had a 15-year career in that league. Since then, she has taken the knowledge she gained from playing that long in the WNBA and translated into a successful NBA coaching career as an assistant.

She is about the most famous female assistant coach that is on any staff around the NBA right now. There are others that hold significant roles around the NBA, including Dallas Mavericks assistant Jenny Boucek, Sixers recently hired assistant Lindsay Harding, and Boston Celtics assistant Kara Lawson.

But Hammon was the first full-time female assistant coach in any of the major professional North American sports leagues. She’s been in a full-time assistant coaching role with the Spurs since the 2014-15 season. This year was the first that she’s seen the Spurs not make the playoffs since she landed with the staff more than five years ago.