The Brooklyn Nets hires Steve Nash, the Hall of Fame point guard and two-time N.B.A. Most Valuable Player Award winner, despite Nash’s lack of coaching experience.
Nash will replace Jacque Vaughn, who will stay on as an assistant. Nets officials, led by General Manager Sean Marks, decided to take a splashy gamble on Nash rather than retain Vaughn or hire a more experienced replacement, believing Nash is a coaching natural who will benefit greatly from his relationship with the star forward Kevin Durant.
Vaughn had been the Nets’ interim coach since March 7, when the team, on course for a playoff berth, abruptly announced that it had mutually agreed to part ways with Kenny Atkinson. Despite missing most of his frontline players apart from Caris LeVert and Joe Harris, Vaughn coached the Nets to a 5-3 record in the eight seeding games at the N.B.A. restart. The Nets were then swept in the first round by the Toronto Raptors, the reigning champions, but surprised many with a victory over Milwaukee and a one-point loss to Portland that nearly prevented the Trail Blazers from reaching the playoffs.
Here is @NYTSports‘ first story on the Nets’ blockbuster hiring of Steve Nash as their new coach: https://t.co/iVA6NzLWy1
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 3, 2020
MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS:
Steve Nash has been hired to be the new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, per @wojespn. @RealJayWilliams explains why he LOVES this move. #KJZ pic.twitter.com/KIGFyd01UG
— Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin (@KeyJayandZ) September 3, 2020
Stephen John Nash (born 7 February 1974) is a Canadian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a player, he played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was an eight-time NBA All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA selection. Twice, Nash was named the NBA Most Valuable Player while playing for the Phoenix Suns. He currently serves as senior advisor of the Canadian men’s national team and as a Head Coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
After a successful high school basketball career in British Columbia, Nash earned a scholarship to Santa Clara University in California. In his four seasons with the Broncos, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and he was twice named the West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year. Nash graduated from Santa Clara as the team’s all-time leader in assists and was taken as the 15th pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. He made minimal impact and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. By his fourth season with the Mavericks, he was voted to his first NBA All-Star Game and had earned his first All-NBA selection. Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season. He became a free agent after the 2003–04 season and returned to the Phoenix Suns.
In the 2004–05 season, Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals and was named the league’s MVP. He was named MVP again in the 2005–06 season and was runner-up for a third consecutive MVP to Nowitzki in 2006–07. Named by ESPN in 2006 as the ninth-greatest point guard of all time, Nash led the league in assists and free throw percentage at various points in his career. He is also ranked as one of the top players in NBA league history in three-point shooting, free throw shooting, total assists, and assists per game.
Nash has been honoured for his contributions to various philanthropic causes. In 2006, he was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2007 and invested to the order in 2016, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Victoria in 2008. Nash has been a co-owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) since the team entered the league in 2011. From 2012 to 2019, he served as general manager of the Canadian men’s national team, for whom he played from 1991 to 2003, making one Olympic appearance and being twice named FIBA AmeriCup MVP. – READ MORE »
