Becky Hammon
Becky Hammon
“I’m a living dream come true!”
“My faith is the most important relationship I have in my life. If you know my story, then everything and everyone in this world said I shouldn’t be a professional athlete. All the ‘experts’ said I’d never really amount to much in the basketball world, and where everyone else said no to me, He said yes!
“He’s always made a way for me. So I’m just walking out the journey He set in place for me. Everyone is always very quick to point out my height and my quickness or lack of, but God always assures me that He’s given me enough to do what He wants me to do.”
Setting the Stage:
Becky Hammon is one of the best women’s basketball players in the world, but you would never believe it if you saw her in person. At 5 feet 6 inches, Becky was considered by many to be too short and small to play professional basketball, but she provided with God all things are possible! Becky has become proof that with faith, hard work, and seizing the moment God will to extraordinary things through you.
Rebecca Lynn Hammon was born on March 11, 1977 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Martin and Beverly. She was the youngest of three, with an older brother Matt and an older sister Gina. Growing up in South Dakota, she grew fond of the outdoors instead of the city life. She went camping, fishing, off-roading, and hunting as she grew older. Her love of basketball came from her brother and father as they would play two-on-two with her brother’s friend every day after school.
Growing up in a Christian home, Becky’s faith in Jesus came very early in her life. At the age of 7, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She learned to play drums for her church and grew in her faith through high school. She went to Stevens High School in Rapid City and as a junior earned the South Dakota Miss Basketball. Her high school basketball team made it to the state championship in her senior year, but lost on a last second shot at the buzzer. Becky applied at many big universities out of high school in the area, but only one major university offered her a basketball scholarship–Colorado State University.
At Colorado State, she broke many school records that still stand today and was named to the WAC all-district team three times. She was the 1997 Colorado State Most Valuable Player and named to the Kodak All-American twice in 1997 and 1998. In her senior year, she led Colorado State to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time ever and finished with the most points ever for a man and woman in Colorado State’s history with 1,916 points.
Coming out of college, Becky entered the 1999 WNBA draft with high hopes but went undrafted. Soon after, the New York Liberty picked her up as a undrafted free agent. She went from a small city in the country to the biggest city in the US–New York City. The fight to make the team was difficult and she was constantly knocked over and hit hard. But she keep getting back up and never quit. The coach Richie Adubato noticed her fight and decided to put her on the team. Becky had achieved her dream to play in the WNBA!
Early in her career, Becky served as a bench player only playing only 6.7 minutes a game in 1999. In 2000, her minutes shot up and so did her performance as she averaged 11 points per game. She quickly won over the fans with her hard working attitude, her kindness, and her down-to-earth personality. By the end of the year, the New York Liberty had made the WNBA championship series and took it to the decisive 3 games thanks to a last-minute dramatic shot by Teresa Weatherspoon. Sadly, once again Becky came up short of a championship as the Houston Comets won Game 3 and the championship.
Over the next 5 years Becky kept getting better as a professional WNBA player and soon become a starter and an all-star in the WNBA. She made the All-Star Game twice and her jersey became one of the top selling jerseys in all of the league. She still faced many trials including tearing her ACL in 2003 and seeing her team disassemble after falling short in the playoffs in 2004. Along with her WNBA career, Becky played overseas playing in Italy and Spain and in the short lived, NWBL, on the Colorado Chill.
On April 4, 2007, Becky was traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars and had to adjust to a whole new team and culture. After a slow start, Becky had a career year averaging 18.8 points a game and 5.0 assists. The Silver Stars made the playoffs for the first time and made it to the conference finals. Becky was second overall in the MVP voting. During the off-season, Becky signed with CSKA, an Euro League team.
Turning Point:
It was during the offseason of 07 in Moscow, Russia that Becky recognized that she needed to recommit to the Lord. She had fallen away from her faith and was living how she wanted to live. She was seeking change instead of just seeking the Lord. She spend a lot of time in God’s Word and it was then that she began to see what God wanted from her. She saw how alike people were in Russia to the United States and felt the need to reach out to the Russian community. She then become a Russian citizen. As she began the 2008 WNBA season, Becky was faced with a very difficult decision. She was left off the USA women’s basketball team and not even given a chance to try out. Her dream was to play in the Olympics and she felt God calling her to join the Russian women’s team. After a lot of prayer and counsel from friends and family she decided to join the Russian team. Many immediately questioned her patriotism and she was criticized hard for her decision. Becky never wavered, never attacked her accusers, and went through with her decision. Despite losing to the USA women’s team in the tournament, the Russian team ended up with bronze and Becky achieved her dream of getting a metal in the Olympics. She would go on to say this about her Olympic experience:
“The whole experience leading up to the Olympics actually changed me as a woman for the better. It’s not always the final outcome, but the process along the way that builds integrity, perseverance, and character. I learned a lot. His way and plan had so much more impact than what I thought would be my greatest moment as an athlete, standing on the medal stand for the USA, but it wasn’t His plan. He had a much bigger purpose and plan for me than I even had for myself.”
Running the Race:
After the Olympics, Becky returned to the Silver Stars and led them to the WNBA championship series with 35 points scored in the decisive game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, once again Becky and her team fell short of winning the championship, getting swept in 3 games against the Detroit Shock.
After the 2009 WNBA season, Becky signed with Spain’s Ros Casares basketball team to play during the WNBA offseason and as of the 2012 is currently still playing for them. She helped them win the Queens Cup in the 2009-2010 season. In March of 2010, Becky was inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. On August 31, 2011, Hammon became the seventh player in WNBA history to score 5000 points. She also went on to score 37 points in a playoff-clinching win against the Los Angeles Sparks later in the year.
Today, Becky is beloved in the San Antonio community and by WNBA fans around the globe. She is considered by many to be one of the top women basketball players in the world. As she turns 35 years old this March(2012), a decision has yet to be made on what she plans to do after her basketball career is over. There is no doubt about it, though, that God will continue to use her in incredible ways!
Her Illuminating Impact:
Becky has a compassionate heart towards others and has supported many charities throughout her career. She’s raised money for The Battered Women’s and Children’s Shelter in San Antonio and Respite Care over the past few years through a birthday charity drive. Also she’s served in WNBA community programs that promote reading, education, and good health. In 2006, she helped raise $60,349 on Wheel of Fortune for Hurricane Katrina victims. Becky’s also run her own basketball clinics in her hometown area and Colorado during the early part of her career. Here’s Becky’s take on helping others:
“I am passionate, and I’m that way because at my core I’m very compassionate. If I see others suffering, it affects me; it moves me, it stirs me, it bothers me – and I’m motivated to help. If I have the ability to help, I want to help! That’s how I was raised; if someone needs help, you help them – just that simple. And I’m glad that I’m in a position to help many others. The saying is true – it’s much better to give than to receive.”
Lesson From Her Legacy:
There is a wealth of wisdom we can take away from Becky’s life. First, never let others tell you what you can or cannot do. Believe that God can do great things through you no matter what the odds. Also no matter how many times you fail or get pushed down, preserve and your hard work and dedication will pay off. Another key lesson is to dream big! Don’t let your circumstances dictate your life and keep you from living the life you were meant to live. Becky’s life is a living testimony that God can bring our wildest dreams to life! Finally, it is better to give than receive. It would have been easy for Becky to bask in the glory and accolades of her success, but she has shown God’s love through giving back to her fans, communities, and people in need. God has certaintly blessed her immensely because of this. As Becky enters her 35th year of her life, her impact and legacy continues to be felt across the globe. She’s a role model for young women, a solid example of Christ, and someone who exemplifies how God can turn the ordinary to the extraordinary!
Trivia:
- Becky holds the Guinness World Record for Most Free Throws made in a minute by a woman after swishing 38 of 42 attempts in 60 seconds on Feb. 16, 2008.
- Becky learned to drive when she was 7 and got pulled over for driving by herself. The cop had let her go, but had asked for her father when he saw the stack of pillows she was sitting on.
- Becky has a sandwich named after her at New York’s famous Carnegie Deli called The Hammon, Egg and Cheese.
- Becky has a group of loyal fans who call themselves “Hammonites”.
Sources:
http://www.slamonline.com/online/other-ballers/womens/2010/01/becky-hammon-a-portrait-of-integrity/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_Hammon
http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/silver-stars-faith-night-6-28-08-part-2/fKCCsJhBzJpMJzOd5uQ9wQ
