The Brooklyn Nets fired head coach Steve Nash on Tuesday, according to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Including the postseason, Nash finished his career as the Nets coach with a record of 101-72. Despite the so-so record, for Nash even wanting to coach the likes of Kyrie Irving is pretty respectable. He tried coaching Kevin Durant, the always-injured Ben Simmons, James Harden and Blake Griffin. Since this version of the Brooklyn Nets paired together a few summers ago, they have been very circus-like. (RELATED: LeBron James Air-Balling A Logo Three Is Probably The Most Embarrassing Shot Of His Career)
The Nets fired Steve Nash, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 1, 2022
Nash is cut from a different cloth than a lot of the players he coached in Brooklyn. He literally broke his nose in a game and then finished it while blood was pouring all over his face. Kyrie Irving does that, and he’s out for a month. There’s levels of focus and toughness that I believe Nash had in his era that these NBA players don’t have.
Despite having boat loads of talent, the Nets have yet to be successful because they are worried about other things outside of basketball.
A good franchise will give Nash’s phone a buzz whenever the time is right for him to return as a coach. What he dealt with over the last two years was not typical. It seemed to be a drama-filled soap opera for the most part. This firing is a blessing in disguise for him.
To coach Durant and Irving, the Nets front office will have to offer their next coaching candidate a few million extra.