Clippers organization exudes pride, excitement as Natalie Nakase lands Valkyries job
Nakase was with the Clippers from 2012-2022.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- It was announced on Thursday that former LA Clippers player development assistant Natalie Nakase had landed the top job for the newly minted Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA.
“We’re super, super, super happy and excited for Nat,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank told Russo Writes in an exclusive interview. “Well deserved.”
Nakase—who spent 2012 through 2022 with the Clippers organization after working her way up from an internship in the team’s video department before ultimately landing a player development assistant gig with the NBA team and an assistant coaching role with their Ontario G League affiliate—was part of the Las Vegas Aces staff since 2022.
Frank recalled Nakase’s time under the tutelage of former NBA coach Bob Hill overseas in Japan, working for free with former Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro in Los Angeles, and staying on when Doc Rivers rose to the head coaching role in 2013.
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