New York Knicks: Five coaching candidates for the 2020-21 season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks to media during Brooklyn Nets Media Day at HSS Training Center on September 27, 2019 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

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Becky Hammon is a coaching candidate for the New York Knicks (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Becky Hammon

If the Knicks want to go with an up-and-coming candidate, Becky Hammon would be an excellent choice. She has worked as an assistant under future Hall-of-Fame coach Gregg Popovich since 2014. In a recent mailbag, SNY reporter Ian Begley, who is as clued into the Knicks’ thinking as anyone, speculated Hammon would get consideration for the Knicks head coaching position.

Hammon is a six-time WNBA All-Star, earning two of those honors while playing in Madison Square Garden for the New York Liberty. As a former player, she understands the game from both an on-court and sideline perspective.

While she doesn’t have much head coaching experience, it’s hard to argue with her experience in an essential apprenticeship under Popovich in San Antonio. She did act as the head coach of the Spurs during the Summer League, becoming the first female to coach in the tournament. The Spurs ended up winning the Las Vegas Summer League title in 2015 under her leadership.

With Hammon’s name on the top of several lists as an assistant ready to make the leap to a lead role, the timing of the Knicks coaching search might align perfectly with her availability before another team beats them to the punch.

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