"Gregg Popovich's Attempt to Eject Himself from Spurs-Rockets Game in a Bid to Catch WNBA Finals"

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich considered getting ejected from a game to watch the WNBA Finals where his former assistant Becky Hammon was coaching the Las Vegas Aces.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich came close to being ejected from their game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Popovich had a strong desire to watch Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals, where his former assistant Becky Hammon is currently coaching the Las Vegas Aces.

After the Spurs' 117-103 victory, Popovich expressed his urgency to see the Aces celebrate their back-to-back WNBA championships in the postgame interview. He even considered getting himself disqualified from the game, but ultimately decided against it.

Popovich admitted, "I thought about getting booted tonight because (Game 4 in New York) was exactly the same time (as the Spurs game), but I just thought this has to be my priority. It was close. Congrats, Becky. Yeah, baby. Good stuff."

It's not unusual for Gregg Popovich to be ejected from games, as he has been thrown out at least 20 times throughout his career. In fact, he holds the record for the fastest disqualification by a head coach, which occurred in just 63 seconds during a game against the Denver Nuggets in 2019.

Becky Hammon, who served as a San Antonio Spurs assistant from 2014 to 2022, led the Las Vegas Aces to their second consecutive WNBA championship. This achievement makes the Aces the first team in 21 years, since the LA Sparks in 2001 and 2002, to win back-to-back titles.

Hammon displayed exceptional leadership in the Aces' Game 4 victory, despite missing two key players, Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes, due to foot injuries sustained in Game 3. Aj'a Wilson was named the 2023 WNBA Finals MVP after averaging 21.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in four games.

It is worth noting that Becky Hammon worked under Gregg Popovich for eight seasons before taking on the role of head coach for the Las Vegas Aces in 2022. Hammon, a former WNBA star, was also recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside her mentor.

When asked about what makes Hammon a special coach, reporters turned to Popovich for his insight. The five-time NBA champion coach explained that Hammon's competitiveness sets her apart from others.

"She's special because she's Becky, the same reasons why I hired her," Popovich emphasized. "She's a competitive, competitive coach. She understands the game. She's great with relationships. She suffers no fools. She's fun to be around. What else could you ask?"

In conclusion, Gregg Popovich's desire to support his former assistant Becky Hammon in the WNBA Finals almost led to his ejection from the Spurs' game. Hammon's leadership and the Aces' triumph in securing back-to-back championships showcased her exceptional coaching abilities. Popovich praised Hammon's competitiveness and overall qualities that make her a remarkable coach.

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