The Brooklyn Nets have named their 23rd head coach in franchise history.
Earlier today, the club announced that they agreed with former MVP Steve Nash to a four-year deal to coach the team.
“After meeting with a number of highly accomplished coaching candidates from diverse backgrounds, we knew we had a difficult decision to make,” said General Manager Sean Marks.
OFFICIAL: The Brooklyn Nets have named Steve Nash as the 23rd head coach in the franchise’s NBA history. pic.twitter.com/SG8OoN3a8g
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) September 3, 2020
Nash joins the Nets following five seasons as a player development consultant with the Golden State Warriors. Nash was apart of the Warriors’ dynasty, winning two NBA championships and four consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals.
He has no previous coaching experience. Former interim head coach Jacque Vaughan will join Nash’s coaching staff as an assistant. The Nets previously fired Kenny Atkinson mid-season before naming Vaughan interim head coach.
Formerly an eight-time all-star, Nash spent 18 seasons between the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers. He won back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006.
“I am honored to have this opportunity with such a first-class organization and would like to thank Sean, Joe and his wife, Clara, for having faith in my ability to lead this team forward,” said Nash
Nash is one of the most accomplished Canadian basketball players of all time. He is a former member of Team Canada and also served as general manager for the senior national team from 2012-2019. He was selected 15th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft.
Known for moving the ball around, Nash’s 10,335 assists are third all-time in NBA history, only behind John Stockton and Jason Kidd.
The Brooklyn Nets were recently eliminated by the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs, losing in a clean sweep. Nash inherits a roster that includes Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan. The Nets will also draft 19, 32, and 55 in the NBA Draft.
As for the franchise, they have not made it out of the first round since 2014, where they were bounced in the Eastern Conference semis. As the New Jersey Nets, they reached the Finals in 2002 and 2003 but came up short.
The franchises’ last championship came in 1976, inning the ABA championship.
Nash’s two championship rings came with the Golden State Warriors. Now with a clean slate coaching Brooklyn, he’ll have an opportunity to win the NBA championship as a head coach.
Nash was named to the basketball hall of fame in 2018, becoming just the second Candian-born player to do so.