What was originally speculation of now three-time WNBA champion Sue Bird landing a front office position with the Denver Nuggets is now reality.
16-year vet.
11-time All-Star.
3-time Champion.
Newest member of the front office.#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/u2VBKNKOIR— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 19, 2018
Bird was recently announced as a basketball operations associate with the Nuggets, and according to this report, it all began with a phone call from Tim Connelly, Denver’s president of basketball operations.
LISTEN: Newest member of the @nuggets Front Office @S10Bird joined @ScottHastings, @salaams_from_68 and @JoshuaDover to discuss her new role with the Nuggets and her thoughts of this current Nuggets roster: https://t.co/L3lKoLuwQ3
— Altitude Sports Radio (@AltitudeSR) November 19, 2018
Caron Butler, NBA forward, turned out to be the middleman between Connelly and Bird, and when the pitch was made, she was completely sold on the opportunity.
It was a really perfect match because here they are giving me this amazing opportunity but also understanding that I’m still a player.
–Sue Bird
They have a core group of young talent, and I think whenever you have that it’s just going to be an exciting brand of basketball. Obviously, they’re led by [Nikola] Jokic, and they have some great guard play whether it’s Jamaal Murray, Gary Harris, Malik Beasley, you name it. One of the best things about this team is the depth. Unfortunately, they’ve got hit with the injury bug a little bit. When it’s all said and done though, I think you’re going to see that depth come through.
Bird joins a growing list of women who have ascended into the NBA’s ranks – including Nancy Lieberman, Becky Hammon, and Kristi Toliver, who was recently named an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards.
Talked with @isaiahthomas this morning about Sue Bird. I started the conversation by asking what comes to his mind when he hears that name.
"A legend. A basketball legend."
He also told me Bird was someone he turned to before deciding to get hip surgery. His full thoughts: pic.twitter.com/795d5b0poD
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) November 17, 2018
Michael Malone reacts to adding Sue Bird to the staff.#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/NGwCpSYdRY
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 17, 2018
"She [Sue Bird] is somebody I really trust in her word on the court and off the court and I'm glad she's here."#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/8S7BPgbIuH
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 17, 2018
Of course, given how the thought of women making sports moves makes those who barely made their local YMCA teams tremble, some took to the Nuggets’ Twitter account only for trolling purposes.
Its social media person was having none of it.
Thanks for filtering yourself out. Bye.
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 16, 2018
