MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks begin NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas on Friday.
They have a new head coach in Adrian Griffin; they have also have the first female assistant coach in the team’s history.
Sidney Dobner had been with the organization in other capacities, including video coordinator and player development.
Dobner said she’s ready for the challenge.
“There was an opening that happened to open up on our staff,” she said. “I reached out to Coach Griffin, shot my shot a little bit. The NBA moves fast and sometimes you just got to take hold of your opportunity. Just presented the idea to him and sounded like he was really on board. Next thing I knew, I was being announced as an assistant coach.”
Griffin is confident in Dobner.
“It’s probably my best hire, I’ll be honest with you,” Griffin said. “No disrespect to the other coaches. I had no idea she was going to be making history. We found out after the fact and kind of celebrated. I do want to say this. She earned it. ”Dobner has the respect of the players.
“You know, she just wants the best for us,” said Bucks swingman MarJon Beauchamp. “I feel like she’s dialed in every day. I see her working.”
Dobner said she simply loves basketball.
“Kind of just doesn’t feel real yet,” said Dobner. “I just want to do my job. I just want to be good at coaching basketball. I just want to help this team be better. At the end of the day, that’s what I’m thinking about. Breaking the ceiling is like a bonus. You don’t imagine that you’re going to be able to do. But somebody has to be the first. And I’m very thankful that this organization has given me the opportunity to be that person.”
Dobner said she wants to impact winning. Her top goal is to help the Bucks win a championship.
“[…] I’m going to do the best to my ability to set good standards for other people around the league and people trying to get this opportunity. Just being visible for other girls that think this is a possibility for them in the future. Basketball is my passion. [Otherwise] I wouldn’t be doing this. It doesn’t feel like a job to me. This is what I love to do. This is what makes sense to me. I would dive on a loose ball right now if you told me to.”