Editorial

Steve Nash Loses It On Refs, Gets Ejected In Epic Fashion

Andrew Powell Sports and Entertainment Blogger
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The Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks squared off Wednesday night in a fiery contest that would see Brooklyn head coach Steve Nash ejected to the locker room, marking his first ever in his coaching career.

After Kevin Durant grabbed the rebound off of a missed shot from the Bucks, the referee near Steve Nash blew the whistle and gave a technical foul to the head coach. In response, Nash kept asking the referee intensely, “What did I do?,” as he was being held back by Royce O’Neale and assistant coaches. The ejection would come in the 4:24 mark in the third quarter.

At the time of the ejection, the Nets had a 70-66 lead, but would ultimately lose the game, 110-99. After Nash went back to the locker room, Brooklyn would be outscored, 44-29.

“I was just standing up for our guys,” Nash told reporters following the game. “I thought Patty [Mills] took a forearm in the throat from Giannis right in front of the ref. I didn’t feel that was fair. I don’t think I was overly demonstrative. I was upset I got the technical.”

On the season, the Brooklyn Nets are a lowly figure of 1-3, while the Milwaukee Bucks are still undefeated at 3-0.

It was quite incredible to see Nash in that state. Throughout his career, Nash has been the type to be “cool, calm and collected,” but Wednesday night… Wednesday night, we saw a completely different side.

And I loved it.

In today’s sports climate, athletes, coaches and personalities get caught up in the glitz and glamour of the celebrity world and the realm of materialism, not always putting a focus on winning and championships. You can’t say that here for Nash.

Nash was a legendary player during his time in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and now in his retirement, he’s the head coach of a sexy brand. Say what you want about the Nets’ dismal start to the 2022-23 campaign, but they’re still the “Brooklyn Nets,” which is a poppin’ brand ranked 11th overall in fan popularity in a 30-team league. It’ll only grow being in Brooklyn. (RELATED: LeBron James Air-Balling A Logo Three Is Probably The Most Embarrassing Shot Of His Career)

Speaking of Brooklyn, it’s a major metropolitan that is sure to bring plenty of luxury and starpower to someone at the level of Nash. You have the swagged out black and white jerseys, you have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on your team (ignore the fact that Ben Simmons exists), you have all of this stuff going on with the “Brooklyn Nets” brand.

And on top of all of that, the man gets paid $8.7 million a year, making him the second highest paid coach in the entire NBA.

It would be easy to get caught up in the high-life whirlwind. With Nash, though, that’s not happening.

The game against the Milwaukee Bucks was only the fourth of the season for the Nets. But Nash’s reaction made you think it was Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The intensity of his eyes told the whole story: He wants to win, and badly.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the world of flash, everybody (including myself) likes a little luxury. But when you can still sustain your passion mixed in with all of the perks that you’ve worked for, it’s an absolutely beautiful thing to see.

Never change, Steve Nash. Never change.