Sean Marks blatantly admits not taking input from players before firing Steve Nash: “The players were not consulted”
The Brooklyn Nets made the decision on Tuesday to fire coach Steve Nash after starting the season at 2-5.
The Nets have issues beyond their a head coach. Their front office, including general manager Sean Marks, has been ineffective dealing with players in the past two years. Whether it is the issues surrounding Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden or Ben Simmons, the Nets have been a mess.
Although Durant had issued an ultimatum for the franchise to rid itself of Marks and Nash in August, Marks on Tuesday said:
“The players were not consulted. They were told ahead of time that this was the direction we were going to today.”
“The players were not consulted. They were told ahead of time that this was the direction we were going to today.”
Sean Marks on whether the players had input on the Nets’ coaching decision https://t.co/l9TfdPhvFN
Nets' front office agreed on firing Steve Nash
It might be questioned from the outside why Brooklyn decided to fire Steve Nash after all of the other issues that the Nets had. Nash was a first-time NBA coach who led Brooklyn to one playoff series victory in two appearances, but his guys not respecting him was also a major issue.
How is a coach supposed to coach his best when his players are doing the things they've done?
Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks added more about the situation from the Nets' front office perspective:
“To be quite frank, the team was not doing what it was supposed to be doing. We have fallen from our goals, from meeting our goals, and it was time now because we still have lofty aspirations of where we need to get to.”
Steve Nash had deteriorating relationship with players
It was evident that the Brooklyn Nets players were tired of Steve Nash. Superstar Kevin Durant reportedly wanted him out in August as a condition for rescinding his June trade request. Owner Joe Tsai rejected Durant's ultimatum.
Brooklyn wasn't able to find a trade partner to take Durant during the offseason. However, now Durant has half of his reported wish fulfilled.
"I never thought that was 100 percent," Nash said of Durant wanting him fired, per ESPN's Nick Friedell, in late September. "There’s a lot of things — it’s not black and white like that. It was a lot of factors. A lot of things behind the scenes."
Other players in the Nets locker room weren't fond of Nash. Kyrie Irving didn't say that he wanted Nash fired, but it was somewhat evident that he wasn't a big fan of his.
Irving, however, isn't someone who can necessarily talk much. The mercurial talent had played in just 103 of 226 games in his first three seasons in Brooklyn in addition to all the off-court distractions.
According to reports, the Brooklyn Nets intend to land suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka. After leading the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season, his first as a head coach, Udoka was suspended by Boston for multiple policy violations in September.