The Sacramento Kings have hired former Duke and WNBA star Lindsey Harding as an assistant coach.
“Lindsey is a rising star and I’m so excited to have her join our incredibly experienced team of coaches,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “Her basketball IQ and proven success on the court will be a valuable addition to our growing team as we work together to build a winning culture for many years to come.”
She joins a growing group of female coaches on NBA benches this season, including Boston’s Kara Lawson, San Antonio’s Becky Hammon, Dallas’ Jenny Boucek and Cleveland’s Lindsay Gottlieb.
Harding was most recently a player development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers beginning in April. Prior to her promotion, Harding worked as the NBA’s first African American female pro personnel scout for Philadelphia (2018-19) following a nine-year career in the WNBA. Harding averaged 9.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 28.7 minutes per game in 270 career games for Minnesota (2007-08), Washington (2009-10), Atlanta (2011-12), Los Angeles (2013-14), New York (2016) and Phoenix (2016).
Harding was selected first overall in the 2007 WNBA draft after playing for Duke from 2002-07 where she earned the 2007 Naismith College Player of the Year award, had her No. 10 retired and was enshrined into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, becoming the third women’s basketball student-athlete to be inducted.