Newly-appointed Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash has opened up about why he has no doubt that he deserves the job. There are some who have questioned his credentials for the daunting task he has in front of him, but for his part, the Hall of Famer is having none of this.
According to Nash, his vast experience during his playing years has prepared him for this challenge:
“What I can do is offer the strengths and qualities I built my career on,” Nash said, via Nets Daily. “Part of that is being able to relate to players of all different levels. I started out as a first-round pick, had some really bad struggles at times and ended up near the top of the game. I offer a relatability to players all over the world. That helps my ability to connect and lead. I think frankly that’s a big reason I was afforded this position.”
Fair point from Nash here. Then again, this does not take away from the fact that he has zero experience as a head coach in the NBA. As a matter of fact, he has no coaching background under his belt whatsoever. Prior to joining the Nets, Nash served as an advisor for the Golden State Warriors, which technically speaking, was not a coaching post.
The Nash hire, however, is anything but unprecedented. In recent memory, a trio of rookie coaches with no prior experience went all the way to win the title. Steve Kerr did it for the Warriors in 2015, and Tyronn Lue achieved the same exact feat the following year. In case you forgot, Nick Nurse also didn't have any experience as a head coach when he led the Toronto Raptors to a title last season — and Nurse didn't even play in the NBA.
It's undeniably going to be a huge challenge ahead for Nash, especially in the high-profile world they have over there in Brooklyn. Nonetheless, we cannot disagree with him when he says that he has the necessary tools to succeed.