Knicks CAN’T Win. So, They SHOULD Make History Instead
Why The Most Valuable NBA Franchise Should Be The First To Hire A Female Head Coach
Staying Loyal
Knicks loyalists, avert your eyes, this might hurt. The Knicks are trash. It’s far too easy, as a fan, to point fingers. There’re so many factors contributing to the New York Knickerbocker’s 4–19 start, it’s not possible to make heads or tails of the situation in a single article. It’s far too easy, as a fan, to diminish the efforts of some of the world’s greatest athletes who happen call MSG their home. The ‘Maple Mamba’, rookie forward RJ Barret, has shown flashes of excellence and it’d be far too cynical (and too soon) to call an athlete who‘s only 19 years old and managing to average 14 points and 5 rebounds against grown men, a draft bust. It’s far too easy, as a fan, to diminish the efforts of some of the world’s best basketball minds who are running the ship over at The Garden. While (former) head coach David Fizdale seems to be the first casualty of yet another rebuilding effort, it would’ve been silly for a sensible Knick fan to have expected more from the roster as it stands.
So, yes, the undeniable reality is that the Knicks cannot win this season. But, enough of what the Knicks can’t do. There are more than enough articles, blogs, and podcasts dedicated to describing in detail what it’s like to be on a roller coaster ride to (seemingly) nowhere. What the Knicks can do this season is make some history. What the Knicks can do this season is become the first NBA franchise to hire a female head coach.
With Fizdale now gone, the rumor-mill has begun churning as sports analysts try to predict the direction the organization will go as they seek his replacement. The only name that makes sense, for this team, right now, is to hire Becky Hammon. Why? The New York Knicks are the most valuable NBA franchise with an estimated value of $4 billion according to Forbes. They do not have money problems. They have basketball (strategy/roster) problems and a looming image problem.
Golden Opportunity
Winning isn’t guaranteed for any organization. Teams can’t help but rebuild as they try to recalculate after several losing campaigns but, fans are inherently impatient. And anxiety-laden New Yorkers are particularly short-sighted. The draft is actually just a lottery. Again, there’s no guarantee the ping-pong balls will gift Knicks fans the next Lebron James or Luka Doncic. If the brass at MSG were able to hire the rising Spurs assistant, who is currently developing under the tutelage of Greg Popovich (who many view as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time), they would guarantee that history would always remember them for making one of the biggest splashes in NBA history.
The 42-year-old former WNBA star started her career as a guard for the New York Liberty. Becky Hammon represented the city for 7 years as one of the league’s go-to guards for instant offense. During her tenure in New York, the team made three WNBA finals appearances. In 2015, the 6 time WNBA all-star was inducted into the New York Liberty’s ‘Ring Of Honor’, an honor bestowed on former retired players who exemplified the team’s commitment to excellence.
Hammon is a proven winner, with a basketball mind strong enough to convince Popovich that she would be an asset to his coaching staff in San Antonio when he hired her in 2014. While there are no guarantees she would solve all of the Knicks’ ills, her hiring could certainly make a dent into MSG’s image problem. By hiring the NBA’s first female head coach, the narrative would change overnight from yet another disastrous Knick’s slide to a compelling story of a first (hopefully of many) to break this particular glass ceiling.
Man Enough?
No doubt, her hiring would ruffle some feathers. Many would question her ability to lead young prideful millionaire athletes who happen to be all men. A valid question. The Knicks have won only 17% of their games this season. The absolute facts show that there haven’t been any men who’ve been able to turn the tides this season. There’s no reason to assume the coach’s gender would make them lose any more.
The Knicks are on pace to lose 68 games this season. The Knicks could pocket the salary allocated for the next head coach, buy a Roomba vacuum, pin a bow-tie on it and have it pace the sidelines for 48 minutes the same results. If you don’t think Becky Hammon is better than a Roomba vac, I’m sorry you read this far. With that said, any win the Knicks would have under Hammon for the duration of this season would be celebrated around the world.
The Knicks would have bragging rights as the organization that contributed to inspiring billions of women around the world to continue to dream bigger. Fans would have a new reason to stay engaged and tough out the back-to-back 40pt deficits that have sadly become the norm for the team this season. Oh, and she may actually turn things around!
There’s no doubt she’s absorbed much of Popovich’s basketball brilliance as a prominent member of his coaching staff in San Antonio. As one of the most winning coaches in NBA history, he’s been grooming her for several years and she’s had the first-hand experience in what it takes to run one of the premier organizations in the league. Pop is your favorite coach’s favorite coach. He’s your favorite player’s favorite coach!
If Hammon turns out to be half the coach Popovich is, she’ll be twice the coach the Knicks need!
