The Brooklyn Nets have sacked head coach Steve Nash, after a 2-5 disappointing start to the season, coupled with more Kyrie Irving controversy.
The Nets announced on Tuesday November 1st that they had parted ways with Nash, a day after they beat the Pacers to go 2-5.
Player power may have got the better of the Hall of Fame point guard, after Kevin Durant said he wanted Nash out over the summer, and the sacking simply heaps misery on the already troubled outfit. Aside from the dumping of Nash, the Nets have been mired in further problems after Kyrie Irving posted a link to some antisemitic content on his Twitter feed, a move that didn't impress Nets owner Joe Tsai.
“Since becoming head coach, Steve was faced with a number of unprecedented challenges, and we are sincerely grateful for his leadership, patience and humility throughout his tenure,” GM Sean Marks said.
“Personally, this was an immensely difficult decision; however, after much deliberation and evaluation of how the season has begun, we agreed that a change is necessary at this time.”
The Nets are likely to move fast to replace Nash, with much talk of bringing in former Brooklyn assistant Ime Udoka, who is currently suspended by the Celtics after breaking team rules by having a relationship with a female staff member.
ESPN were first to report the link between the Nets and Udoka.
With a decision expected within no more than a couple of weeks, the Nets can look back on a the Nash years with mixed feelings. A 92-62 record, making the playoffs in both full seasons are undoubtedly positive. Being a first round flop last season and losing both Harden and Irving due to injury in the second round in 2021 were negative.
Then layer on top of all of that the refusal of Irving to get COVID vaccinated, so being unable to play home games for the second half of last season, its fair to say that Nash stood tall amongst the chaos to deliver a decent set of results.
However starting a season when your star player states that he wants to be traded if you are not fired, is a tough gig, and perhaps the fact that Tsai refused to buckle to either demand, was what eventually cost Nash his job.
Who'd bet against the Nets going on a decent run now that Durant has quickly got his way.
#PlayerPower.
