NBA legend Steve Nash just lately provided some perception on his failed NBA teaching debut with the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets employed Nash to be the workforce’s head coach for the 2020-21 season — Brooklyn’s first with a wholesome Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
However regardless of teaching a Nets core that finally included former MVP James Harden, Brooklyn by no means made it previous the second spherical underneath Nash’s tutelage.
Nash spoke to Eurohoops’ Cesare Milanti over the weekend in the course of the “Night time of the Dragon” occasion, which was an exhibition sport to have a good time Nash’s former teammate Goran Dragic’s retirement.
In his interview with Lilanti, the 50-year-old touched on his time with the Nets. Nash admitted that he wasn’t planning on teaching however Brooklyn provided him a “distinctive scenario” to steer the ship for a star-studded roster.
The 2-time NBA MVP admitted {that a} “enormous part” of his job was “managing personalities,” whether or not or not it’s gamers, coaches or members of the entrance workplace. He additionally pointed to gamers having rather more energy in in the present day’s NBA.
Nash additionally added that he was “shocked” by how little contact he was really in a position to have together with his gamers.
“I used to be shocked once I coached, you’re not within the workforce that a lot,” mentioned Nash. “You could have 5 minutes with gamers earlier than the sport, at halftime, and after the sport. These are the one occasions if you deal with the workforce. I wished to attach with each participant individually. It’s necessary to construct a tradition and an surroundings the place individuals consider and see them be their greatest. You could really feel that you really want them to develop into the perfect model of themselves.”
The Nets fired Nash simply seven video games into his third season. He completed with a 94-67 file.
There have been experiences that Irving was at odds with Nash towards the top of the latter’s tenure with the Nets.
Nash developed a status throughout his enjoying profession as among the finest on-court leaders of his period. However based mostly on Nash’s account of his Nets stint, teaching is a special beast completely.