Count Jay Williams among those who thinks Kara Lawson will be the next head coach of the Boston Celtics.
On ESPN Friday, the former point guard backed up his fellow Blue Devil (Lawson was named head coach of the Duke women's team last season). Most of all, Williams said her hire would help expunge Boston's negative reputation when it comes to welcoming athletes of color.
"Let's bring it up: I understand Danny (Ainge) can only speak from his experiences, but understanding there were some issues racially that were happening in Boston, the history of that, what a statement would it be for the Boston Celtics to hire the first woman head coach of the NBA," Williams said Thursday on ESPN. "And then, also to add to that — she's qualified now — but a woman of color to be the head coach of the Boston Celtics? What a grand statement that would be."
It would be a grand statement, especially considering the gross racial disparities in the NBA's coaching ranks. Though the league is 74.2 percent Black, there are just seven Black head coaches, despite 85 percent of assistant-coaching roles being filled by people of color.
There is a clear opportunity gap, and Lawson's hire would help close it. There are also eight female assistants in the NBA, including Becky Hammon, another prime contender.
Earlier this week, Brian Scalabrine said he thinks Lawson is the favorite for the job. She worked as an assistant under Brad Stevens for the 2019-20 campaign. "I know the organization thinks she is unbelievable," he said. "I know the players respect her, which she went down to Duke to coach the women's team there. I am just putting A + B = C here. To me, I think they hire Kara Lawson."
Lawson, who played 12 seasons in the WNBA, was praised by players last season — including Jayson Tatum. Williams said she would be beloved in the locker room.
"Find me a player on the Boston Celtics roster who would say he doesn't want Kara Lawson to be the head coach," he said. "I would be shocked."
It's hard to get a better endorsement than that.
