"I think if you put Steve Nash in Steve Kerr's spot, I think he still gets a ring” – Former NBA champion doesn't blame Steve Nash for Nets failure
The Brooklyn Nets fired Steve Nash as head coach, but many have said he is not to blame. Former NBA champion Nick Young believes Nash would have succeeded if he was in Steve Kerr's position.
Nash spent two years with the Nets but failed to record any success. Although they made it to the playoffs on both occasions, they never got past the second round.
After a horrid start to the season, the Nets front office saw enough. On Nov. 1, the Nets announced that they were parting ways with Nash.
Nonetheless, his exit has sparked reactions in the NBA community. Charles Barkley believes he is a scapegoat and was not to blame for the Nets' struggles.
On "No Chill with Gilbert Arenas," the same was discussed. Young believes Nash was simply in an unfortunate situation where Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were figuring things out mentally. He does not believe the former Phoenix Suns star was a terrible coach:
"I think if you put Steve Nash in Steve Kerr's spot. I think he still get a ring.
"I think he got on a team where KD and Kyrie is in a situation where they're trying to find themselves mentally too off the court more than on the court."
With the caliber of talent on the Nets roster, they were expected to at least reach the NBA Finals even without a proven coach. Since 2020, they have been favorites at the start of every season to win the title.
Role too big for Steve Nash?
Since the Nets announced Nash as head coach, many frowned at the decision. It was believed that he was stepping into a role that was too much for him to handle.
Nash signed with the Nets without any prior coaching experience, even as an assistant coach. Although his exploits as a player earned him a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, he needed a different skill set to succeed as a coach.
Regardless, the NBA community never saw the true potential of Nash as a head coach because he never had a complete team. The Nets were doing great in the 2021 playoffs but injuries to James Harden and Kyrie Irving in the conference semifinals derailed their campaign.
During the 2021-22 season, the Nets had to play without Irving and Durant for an extended period. Harden was displeased with the situation and requested to be traded during the trade deadline.
The Nets still looking for a replacement for Steve Nash
For the time being, assistant coach Jacque Vaughn has been promoted to fill the role of head coach. In Nash's stead, he has led the Nets to one victory in two outings.
Shortly after Nash was fired, it was rumored that the Nets had obtained permission from the Boston Celtics to sign Ime Udoka. However, fans are skeptical about his wrap sheet.
Udoka was suspended by the Celtics before the start of the 2022-23 season due to workplace misconduct. Nonetheless, pundits believe he will turn things around in Brooklyn.
Shaquille O'Neal believes Udoka will bring championship experience to the Nets. Stephen A. Smith has also advised the Nets to snatch the suspended coach, saying "desperate times call for desperate measures."