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In September, Nakase began a yearlong internship with the Los Angeles Clippers. She works for the team's video coordinator, in the same kind of NBA entry-level position once held by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown and Portland Trail Blazers assistant Kaleb Canales. (There has been only one woman in NBA history to work as a video coordinator: Trish McGhee, who was laid off by the Memphis Grizzlies because of the lockout of 2011.)

Billy King, general manager of the Brooklyn Nets, says he thinks the NBA will employ a female assistant coach within the next 10 years. But, King cautions, the hire must be made by an established head coach with the full respect of his players, and the woman in question must be better than good -- as is usually the case for someone breaking down barriers. "Whenever you're the first, people don't want to see you succeed," King says. "I think there would be a lot of cruel jokes made behind closed doors, and there would be a lot of people trying to make sure it didn't work."

In her two seasons in Japan, Nakase came to believe her approach to basketball was best suited to coaching men at the professional level. She possesses a time-is-money focus, an utter disdain for inefficiency. When she steps onto the court, she wants to squeeze improvement out of every minute. And, although the NBA is notorious for distributing fat, guaranteed contracts that can result in complacency, the bulk of the league's players still need to improve daily as a matter of job security -- the kind of high-stakes climate Nakase thrives on. "I don't have time for messing around," she says. "It's like, 'Do you want to get better or don't you?'"

Denver Nuggets forward Andre Iguodala, who has been in the league since 2004, offers a similar take. "If a female coach knows the game, veteran players would respond well," he says. "All we want is someone who knows the game."

And that's exactly what Nakase had to prove to the Clippers.

Nakase showed up early and took scrupulous notes. When Severns introduced her to Raman Sposato, the team's video coordinator, Sposato asked her what she was hoping to do in the NBA. Seeing a sliver of an opening, Nakase darted through. "Actually," she said, "I want to do what you're doing." (Hill had long counseled Nakase that she likely would have to start as a video intern to prove herself and learn the league from the inside out.)

After a few days, Del Negro walked over to Nakase, intrigued to discover just what, exactly, she had been so thoroughly detailing. He asked whether he could see her notes. She handed them over. Del Negro looked down, absorbing it all for a few moments. Then he looked at Nakase.

"You've got the job," he said.

Kate Fagan, ESPN

Very interesting read.

Glad to have her on hopefully she can rise through the ranks and be a more hands on member of the staff

Based on what I read sounds like she's a hard worker and will succeed. The only thing that could hold her back is teams being hesitant to hire a woman. Hopefully she'll be treated like any other person working for a professional sports organization.

I hope that her hard work and dedication pays off one day.

Looking at Spoelstra's road to becoming NBA head coach, he was with the Heat for 13 years as a video coordinator, scout and assistant coach before being handed the keys. There is a process involved and it would take some time, but the most important step is getting a foot in the door. I think that her one day becoming an assistant could very well happen.

A head coaching job isn't out of the question, but would probably require a favorable combination of factors. It would have to be a franchise with a strong internal structure willing to take a "risk" and a more mature team that would be receptive to taking direction and following the lead of a female voice. I don't want to sell all of these players short, but there are some knuckleheads that give even the most respected of coaches grief.

If she's given a chance to join a coaching staff as an assistant, she'll be able to show how well she knows the game. Nancy Lieberman coached the Texas Legends (Mavs D-League affiliate), but is one of the most highly decorated women in the history of basketball. I think it's great that the Clippers have given Nakase an internship as a video coordinator and we'll always be known as the team that gave her a start if she does end up on a coaching staff one day. As far as coaches/staff go, I only care that they know what they are doing. It could be a name or a no name, I just care about them making the team better. It would be the same with a female coach. If she makes the team better or was the most qualified for the job, then why not?

u guys think egotistical NBA players will take their cues from a woman?

that's my only reservation.
if they'll go for it...bring her on.

it's not a matter of intelligence with her, i don't believe she was given an athletic scholarship to attend UCLA and that's all everybody has to know how smart she is.

the real barrier she must overcome is not only being a female, but an asian. Yao was a chinese born chinese national who were scouted for being 7'5". Heat's spoelstra is the only person who can claim being AsianAmerican and he is only half.... if Nakase makes it even has an assistant, she will be the first US National, US born full blooded Asian to ever make it anywhere in NBA. she will be our Jackie Robinson of basketball.

having said all that, the reality of this happening is probably next to zero. i am not counting on it. but would be a nice advancement for women in pro sports and asianamericans in NBA.

Sounds like she has the drive and work ethic.
If she could get onto a list as a female assistant, it would be great for basketball. Talent is talent.

Out of interest, are there female coaches at the lower levels? D-League or similar? That might be the other route for her, at some point?

It's a different sport and a different country, but some might find the following of interest...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/port-melbourne/story-e6frf9if-1226209668649

AFL is a male-dominated sport. There are female trainers, etc, but there is no high-level female competition in the way there is with basketball. Apart from the initial flurry of news on this, it's all gone pretty quiet. The team has been ultra successful, and I am guessing she's doing a good job (team is winning, and no-one seems interested she's a female anymore...that means something is going right, yeah??)

This is the second strongest comp in Australia, and players who aren't playing in the firsts each week drop back to this level to play. So closest equivalent in basketball would be D-League.

Agree w Quake. No matter how smart and talented she is I can't see grown men making millions as an athlete taking direction from a female coach. Not being sexist or anything, just can't see it happening.

mttwlsn16 wrote:Agree w Quake. No matter how smart and talented she is I can't see grown men making millions as an athlete taking direction from a female coach. Not being sexist or anything, just can't see it happening.

ha they haven't met my wife yet. she maybe only 5 foot even but she can order any grown man to do his job. just ask me.......

Its going to take her about a decade of assistant coaching when she finally gets there to earn the respect of the guys.