Kara Lawson on overcoming assumptions in time coaching with Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics head coach Kara Lawson recounted instances where her gender as a woman in an assistant coaching role with the team created obstacles for her during her time with the NBA franchise. Although she was one of only a few women in such positions in the league and the first for the Celtics, Lawson was determined not to allow such assumptions to hinder her progress. However, there were moments when her identity as a woman led to challenges in her line of work.

One such situation occurred during away games when event security, unaware of her role, would stop her from entering the court. Lawson explained that she was not provided with a credential, unlike her male counterparts, which led to her being denied access to the court. This issue was particularly prevalent when she was walking alongside another assistant coach who was a male and did not face the same issue.

The security personnel would ask for her credential, and when she clarified that she did not have one, they would refuse her entry. Lawson recounted an incident where another assistant coach intervened, calling her a coach, but the security personnel still would not let her on the court. It was only after a supervisor intervened that she was eventually allowed to join the bench.

These difficulties were more frequent in away arenas, where the security staff was less familiar with Lawson and her role. However, at home games in Boston, the security and ushers were familiar with her, making the experience much smoother.