The Brooklyn Nets have hired Steve Nash to be their new head coach. He will be on the sidelines for a team that plans on being in contention for the NBA Championship next season.
With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way, this team is going to be very talented. But they hired a coach that has no coaching experience, which resulted in a wide range of reactions around the league.
Right Guy for the Job
Bob Myers, head of basketball operations at the Golden State Warriors, was not surprised by the hire. He also has hired coaches with no experience, and it has worked out.
“Steve Nash has the ability to walk out onto the court and earn the immediate respect of Kevin Durant or Steph Curry or Klay Thompson — and there aren’t too many people in the world who can do that,” Myers told ESPN. “More than that, though, he can communicate with them effectively and efficiently.”
Nash was one of the greatest point guards of all-time. Players like Irving might not have much left to learn from most people in the world. However, Nash could be the guy to instill some improvements in his game.
Many people believe Nash is the right guy because of the culture he can build in Brooklyn. He is a person who can create relationships and cast a positive image for the team.
Negative Reactions
Stephen A. Smith was clear about liking Nash and believing that he will have success in Brooklyn. However, he was skeptical about the hire because of the lack of experience that Nash has.
“Ladies and gentlemen, there’s no way around it: This is white privilege,” Smith declared. “This does not happen for a Black man. No experience on any level as a coach, and you get the Brooklyn Nets job?”
The Nets job was a popular one for many. They will be aiming to be the best team in the Eastern Conference next season. There was a long list of guys that were going for this job.
Smith wanted to know who else they interviewed and why they didn’t go with one of the other Black candidates that have had experience.
“Sometimes, you just want to scream — want to scream to the high heavens: How the hell is this always happening for somebody else other than us?” Smith said.
But not everyone agreed with the points that Smith was making. Charles Barkley had several remarks on the TNT’s “Inside the NBA” about the white privilege remarks that people were making.
“I was very disappointed in some of the guys on television today talking about white privilege. Very disappointed,” Barkley said. “They’re like, ‘Well, this doesn’t happen to Black guys.’ And I’m like, ‘It happened to Doc Rivers. It happened to Jason Kidd. It happened to Derek Fisher.'”
There is no doubt that all eyes will be on Nash next season. He will have pressure to win now.