In a notable move for the Las Vegas Aces, head coach Becky Hammon has expanded her coaching staff by adding Larry Lewis as an assistant coach. Known for his extensive background in basketball both as a player and a coach, Lewis comes to the Aces with quite the resume. As reported by FOX5 Vegas, Hammon expressed excitement about the new hire, stating, "I’m thrilled to add coach Lewis to our group. To add the quality of depth in character and knowledge will be a huge value to our basketball system and culture we’ve built."
His coaching tenure at the University of California, Santa Barbara is particularly noteworthy. During his five years there, the Gauchos clinched the Big West Tournament titles twice and secured NCAA Tournament berths. Lewis's track record in player development is expected to aid the Aces in pursuit of future championships. Prior experiences include stints as a coach and director of player development for both the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, as well as time with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the G-League, as detailed by KTNV.
Lewis also brings to the table an impressive playing career that spanned 19 years and multiple countries. He's not stranger to international competition either, having earned a silver medal as part of the 1995 U.S. Pan American Games Team in Argentina. Such experience will be invaluable to the Aces, promising to infuse the team with a blend of global insights and tried-and-tested basketball strategies, as per KTNV.
Upon joining the Aces, Lewis acknowledged the team's cultural significance and stated, "It’s exciting to be joining the Aces because there’s a passion behind the team that is cultural, and it seems to be a very definite ambition of the team to hold onto that culture," according to his words captured by KTNV. His awareness of the challenges and the value of preserving a team's culture speaks to his understanding of the importance of cohesion and unity within a professional sports organization.
