The NBA has demonstrated itself to be a progressive league, especially in comparison to other sports. The Toronto Raptors, like the league, have taken steps to be vocal advocates for equality, as evidenced by their antiracism campaign.
Though the franchise named John Wiggins to oversee organizational culture and inclusion, there still appears to be a gaping hole for the Raptors when it comes to equity. There is a lack of female representation on their staff.
Recently, Becky Hammon made NBA history by being the first female finalist for a head coach position when the Portland Trail Blazers put her on their shortlist. There is no doubt that Hammon has all the tools to be a successful head coach and she may likely be the first to breach the Association’s head coaching glass ceiling.
She isn’t the only talented female coach in the league. There have been 14 female coaches in the league’s history but there should be more. Considering that they already have Teresa Resch in the front office, there should be at least one woman on the Raptors’ staff.
The Toronto Raptors should aim for a more diverse bench.
There has been just one female assistant coach in Raptors history. That was Brittni Donaldson, who at age 26 became the youngest to hold the position in the NBA. She rose to that position through her work with the organization as a data analyst.
Donaldson was able to make use of her degree in statistics and actuarial studies from the University of Northern Iowa and apply it to her love and passion for basketball for the Raptors. She spent two years in the position with Toronto before the front office gave her an opportunity on Nick Nurse’s staff.
In December of 2020, Donaldson was moved to Patrick Mutombo’s staff as an assistant coach with Raptors 905. She finished this past season with the G-League team. This means that Toronto’s NBA club remains staffed only by male coaches.
This needs to change.
Nurse and the Raptors appear to be excellent at developing coaches. Chris Finch, an assistant on the team was poached by the Minnesota Timberwolves to be their new head coach in February. In October last year, Nate Bjorkgren was taken by the Indiana Pacers to be their bench boss. He was unfortunately just fired by the Pacers. Earlier this month, another Toronto assistant coach, Sergio Scariolo, became a head coach. The Raptors lost Scariolo to Virtus Bologna in Italy.
— Sergio Scariolo (@sergioscariolo) June 17, 2021
With Scariolo heading to Europe, it means that there is a spot to fill on the coaching staff. Actually, there are two. The Raps never replaced Finch. This leaves an opportunity to bring in one of the 905 coaches or give an opportunity to someone new to the franchise.
Donaldson could be on her way back to the NBA where she could continue her development under Nurse. Should that plan not come to fruition, perhaps Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster can manage to recruit someone from around the NBA like Teresa Weatherspoon.
Weatherspoon was named as an assistant under Stan Van Gundy with the New Orleans Pelicans last year, and even appeared to be in the running for their vacant head coaching job. If she isn’t retained by the regime that comes in
Another realistic hire would be Jolette Law, who is currently an assistant coach for the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team. She has had the opportunity to learn under the tutelage of legendary head coach Dawn Staley and has an outstanding resume.
Law has not just been an assistant with five different programs, but she’s also been a head coach and an associate head coach. She was also a successful player for the University of Iowa and was even a Harlem Globetrotter for four years. Law would be an incredible addition to Toronto.
Even if none of the names mentioned were to join the Raptors next season, there are myriad candidates who just need the chance to prove themselves. It’s time that the Raptors embrace the future of the game and act to bring female representation to the coaching staff sooner than later.
Time will tell what the Raptors decide to do to fill their vacant coaching spots. Hopefully, they choose a woman and show young hopeful female ballers that there is a place for them in the NBA and in Toronto.