San Antonio Spurs make Becky Hammon NBA's second ever female coach

The San Antonio Spurs have a reputation for always being one step ahead of everyone else. And on Tuesday, the team lived up to the billing once again in announcing they had hired WNBA star Becky Hammon to serve as an assistant coach next year, making her the second ever female coach in the NBA.

Lisa Boyer previously spent one year as a volunteer assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, in the 2001-02 season.

Hammon, a 16-year WNBA veteran, is one of the most prolific players in the league's history. She is currently wrapping up her final season after announcing last month she would retire at the end of the year.

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Hammon's hiring comes shortly after the Los Angeles Clippers named assistant video coordinator Natalie Nakase to an assistant coaching role with the team's summer league squad.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated Hammon was the first female assistant coach in NBA history. She is the second.