It is possible that in these finals the spotlights are taking them Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his huge performance, or Tyrese Haliburton and his impossible basket of the first game, even Rick Carlisle And his routine, not very pleasant, in the band. But there is room for a very special prominence.
Jenny Boucek (Nashville, 1973), is a coach assistant to Carlisle In the Pacers, she is actually the coordinator of the defense of the team. But above all she is a mother and has shown that in a world as elitist as NBA is, I could combine both roles and do it satisfactorily.
Boucek He joined the Pacers in 2021, next to Carlisle. But its story goes much further. 12 days after being ceased in Dallas He gave birth to his daughter Rylie through in vitro fertilization. Since then, his daughter accompanies Jenny In many of the matches of the Pacers outside the home to the point of having become one more of Indiana's family. And in the words of his boss, Rick Carlisle: “She will be the first woman to be a boss coach in the NBA“.
Jenny Boucek in a match with the Pacers.
ASK. How is Rylie?
ANSWER. He is becoming great, and also familiar with what this life is for her, understanding and learning more. He is learning mathematics at school, so he asks how many games we have to win in each round, how many rounds are … and he is making the accounts.
Q. is discovering what basketball is and what your life is
R. Much about our life. Appreciates being able to travel, know the references of the different cities, and things like that. This is a great learning experience for her, grows seeing the world and I hope you have an open mentality for this.
Q. She lives in a very special situation because she continues to travel with the team. Can I imagine that it will have become a kind of pet inside the locker room?
R. The people of the NBA know her since she had a month. They have seen her grow, almost seven years old now. He is traveling a lot. If we have a displacements of more than three nights add to the expedition, it is getting more and more in it. For her is her normality, she has no idea what she is special. Her companions are starting to mention some things that make her see that she is something special, if for example someone talks about Tyrese Haliburton with admiration, she simply says: “But she is my neighbor, where is the special?”
Jenny Boucek.
Q. I imagine that as you get older, it can be more complicated for you to be able to attend the two things, on the one hand to be a mother and on the other continue with your career on the benches in the NBA. Is it easier or more difficult than before?
R. It is easier. First because she now understands things more, it doesn't happen so badly when I have to leave, she understands. It has as a biological clock that tells him how long the season is long. This is being a little long, so it is adapting to the fact that it lasts another month, but understands what is happening, that makes it easier. The conversations we have are deeper about whether it is experience is being good or bad. I think she feels more part of it and understands more. She is traveling more, makes us feel more special, when she was smaller I had to lose games and I hated that. Now comes more, our worlds are gathering a little more.
Q. It is probably more difficult now in postseason, because in the regular league he has the calendar and is following it, but now he does not know where he will be next week.
R. Yes, when I was with teams that we did not know if we would play the playoffs or not, I could tell him a final date of when we would end and how many games were left. The last two years we have not been able to do that. But the difference between the last year in which we get very far in playoffs and this is great, because she is brilliant, we talk a lot and has had more experience about what it means to be in some playoffs.
Q. He is taking giant steps in his career, how important is it to be a key piece of a team that reaches the NBA finals?
R. It is an honor to be part of the NBA. It is an honor to work with these young people so brilliant that they are committed to achieving their maximum potential and are living their dreams. These boys grew from a very young age chasing their dreams and being able to help them on that path is a right role in life. It is an honor to be part of this.
Q. What is the opinion of the impact that WNBA had last season? I don't know if I could imagine something like that two or three years ago.
R. What is happening with the WNBA is something that is coming with a lot of delay. I would say that it has been built for a long time, I can feel it as a woman. What we are seeing is very exciting for many of us because even my generation felt a lot of discrimination, the league was the subject of many teasing in television and radio programs. I am not so old as to know what the generation felt prior to me, or even before the WNBA existed, they were inconsiderate their entire life for their sex, suffered extreme discrimination and went through many battles, it was painful. I am close to that generation that value and understand respect, and feel gratitude and celebrate it for what is happening with women's sport right now.
Q. It is incredible what is happening. And for example here, in Indianapolis, the effect of Caitlin Clark, is crazy to reach the airport and that the first thing you find is a giant photo of it and small next to the promo of the NBA finals. How is that impact that Clark has had in the city and that has become an icon of the city?
R. The impact Caitlin Clark has had is difficult to explain, is what it is, is something for which she was predestined. Having an admary as never before had a female athlete. And he carries it with great elegance and confidence. She is chosen for this. I think she understands it, we have spent a lot of time together, which is something that has been given. He is working very hard, obviously, but there are many people who have been part of this and have not had so much recognition as she has. She understands it perfectly. His companions also understand it, he has a great responsibility, and he is being the catalyst for all this. There have been many women before her and with her, who are like a culmination of all this.
Jenny Boucek talks to Bennedict Mathurin.
Q. How is she close to the Pacers? Because we have seen her a lot in the games encouraging, but I don't know if they may spend more time together, if you train with them …
R. It is one of the best things that WNBA has, to be part of the NBA family from day one. I would not be here if it were not for that link, because players and coaches have had many interactions in these years since the beginning. We are a family, our organization, and I think it is. Friend of many of our players. Her boyfriend was a fellow with us before even she was drafted. So, there is a lot of relationship, much support, not only with Caitlin Clark but with other players, and is mutual. NBA players have always respected the WNBA players, and would say, as a former WNBA player, that we have always felt more respected by NBA players than by many people and many men. We have always felt that support and that love, and that has always meant a lot to us.
Q. I know he could work with Luka Donc in his early years in the NBA. How was his reaction when he learned that he was transferred to the Lakers and how did that occur?
R. Today, with all 'fake-news', you don't know what to believe and what not. You are not sure whether it is real or not, because it is unthinkable that a player of his level and his talent can be transferred. But it is a cure of humility and a reminder to all that in this business no one is untouchable and that the team is more than individuals. It is a lesson of humility for all and probably also a good reminder that it is not something that depends on us.
