Kevin Durant reflects on Steve Nash getting ejected against Milwaukee Bucks: "So when he didn't get a tech as a coach, I'm like, 'Where that s**t at?'"
Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets were ahead against the Milwaukee Bucks in the third quarter when Steve Nash was ejected. Nash earned his first technical foul after complaining at the ref for calling a foul on Patty Mills, who was hit by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s elbow.
The ejection came when Nash heatedly went after the ref who called the first technical on him. Here’s what Kevin Durant had to say when asked if he had ever seen the usually calm coach that furious:
“Yeah, I mean we watched him play for 20 years. I seen him talk sh*t to the refs. Been on the court with him when he talked crazy to the refs. My first few years, Steve used to talk so crazy to the refs. So when he didn't get a tech as a coach, I'm like, 'Where that sh*t at?' He’s feisty.”
Kevin Durant on Steve Nash getting ejected from the game tonight:
"My first few years, Steve used to talk so crazy to the refs. So when he didn't get a tech as a coach, I'm like, 'Where that s--- at?'" 😂 https://t.co/l0nBxpnUJI
The Brooklyn Nets had a four-point lead with four-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter. In front of Steve Nash and the ref, Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to create space with his elbow. Patty Mills, who was still moving a little sidewards, got the hit and was called for a foul.
Nash’s ejection seemed to fire up the Bucks as they thoroughly dominated the Nets 44-29 from then on until the final whistle. Milwaukee trailed by 12 points entering the second half and had no answer for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. They, however, started to claw their way back into the game in the third period.
Durant capped off his comments about Steve Nash’s ejection with this:
“You handle yourself differently as a coach. But sometimes you just wanna go out there and fight for your guys and that’s what he did tonight.”
Steve Nash rarely showed emotion last season even when they were getting pummeled by the Boston Celtics. When the Celtics bullied and played very physically against the Nets, Nash kept his composure all series long.
This might be the coach’s new way of firing up his squad when they start to play careless basketball as they did in Wednesday night’s game. If the outburst was intentional, then it didn’t help much, at least on the night as Kevin Durant and Co. fell to a 110-99 defeat.
Steve Nash could be on the hot seat before Thanksgiving if Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets continue to falter
The Brooklyn Nets are now 1-3 after their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. They had to scrape past the Toronto Raptors in their only win of the season so far. If they enter Thanksgiving under .500, Steve Nash could face the axe.
Just a month or so ago, Kevin Durant reportedly asked team owner Joe Tsai to fire the coach. There have also been rumblings that the players were grumbling about how Nash was badly outcoached by suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka.
Tsai stood by Nash mainly and probably because he wanted to prove something to Durant. He didn’t and couldn’t give in to KD’s demands to fire Nash as he wanted to take control of his franchise.
However, if the Brooklyn Nets don’t turn things around, the billionaire might be forced to axe the Hall of Fame point guard.
Kendrick Perkins: "[Steve Nash] is on the hot seat."
#NBATwitter #NetsWorld https://t.co/0fh56WeulQ
The Nets are desperate to make things work this season. This is likely to be Irving’s likely last season in Brooklyn and Joe Tsai would like to see something special out of his superstar duo.
Steve Nash could start showing more feistiness as he and the Nets fight to turn their season around.