Steve Nash has signed a four-year deal to become the next head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Jacque Vaughn, who coached the team after the firing of Kenny Atkinson, will stay on as the lead assistant and become the NBA’s best-compensated assistant coach.
Owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks aggressively recruited Nash in recent weeks, despite resisting the idea of breaking into the coaching guild.
“We are excited to welcome Steve to the Nets family and look forward to a successful and meaningful partnership,” said Tsai in a team statement. “Steve shares our vision for the future of this franchise and his character exemplifies the core principles of our organization in working to serve our communities. I can't wait for Steve to get started.”
Only months prior, Nash was doing analysis on his other love: soccer — doing color commentary and analysis on the UEFA Champions League with TNT and Bleacher Report.
Before the talks with Steve Nash started, the Nets were looking at other options like Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd, Los Angeles Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue, and even San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich as an outside shot to take the job.
“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. “Coaching is something I knew I wanted to pursue when the time was right, and I am humbled to be able to work with the outstanding group of players and staff we have here in Brooklyn. I am as excited about the prospects of the team on the court as I am about moving to Brooklyn with my family and becoming impactful members of this community.”
Now having put pen to paper, Nash will be yet another former point guard to join the line of former players-turned-coaches in the NBA, following Kidd, Lue, Steve Kerr, and Vaughn.
It's worth noting that Steve Nash played a pivotal part in convincing Kevin Durant to sign with the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Already boasting a strong relationship with 2014 Most Valuable Player, the two-time MVP will have some strong footing as he begins his coaching journey with the Nets.
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