Six years ago Natalie Nakase told former NBA point guard and Phoenix Suns coach Earl Watson that she wanted to coach in the NBA. Through hard work and steely determination, she has finally reached that goal. In 2018-19, Nakase will be just the fourth woman to coach during a regular NBA season, and the first in Los Angeles, joining veteran coach Doc Rivers on the Clippers’ bench.
Nakase was promoted to the Clippers’ Player Development staff earlier this summer after completing her sixth season within the Clippers organization and her first in the role of assistant coach with the Agua Caliente Clippers.