The Brooklyn Nets have named former Sacramento Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez as the 24th head coach in franchise history Monday.
Brooklyn, who wrapped up a disappointing 32-50 campaign relieved former bench boss Jacque Vaughn of his duties at the All-Star break. Former UConn coach Kevin Ollie was then elevated into the head coach role on an interim basis, but couldn’t right the ship down the stretch as the Nets missed out on the postseason.
“As we progressed through an extensive search over the past six weeks, it became increasingly clear that Jordi is the best coach to lead our team forward,” general manager Sean Marks said in a prepared statement. “Jordi brings a diverse set of experiences and basketball knowledge gained over the course of a coaching career that has taken him around the world. Each step of the way, Jordi has consistently demonstrated the ability to implement strong processes and creative systems designed to optimize each team’s specific roster.”
Marks has now overseen a slew of coaches come through Brooklyn over the last several seasons, including Vaughn (twice), Ollie, Steve Nash, Tony Brown, and Kenny Atkinson. With fans growing tired of the Nets lack of playoff success, the Fernandez hiring could be last one in the Marks era if things don’t improve.
For his part, Fernandez brings a strong work ethic and impressive resume to the table. However, the 41 year old will certainly have his work cut out for him to change the culture for a franchise that’s won only 1 playoffs series in the last decade.
“I am truly grateful to lead the Nets as head coach,” Fernandez said. “I am eager to get to work with this talented group of players and collectively drive our team forward.”
The Spaniard began his coaching career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009 as a player development coach. He then spent 3 years with the Canton Charge of the G-League, before joining the Denver Nuggets as an assistant. After 6 years in the Mile High City, Fernandez joined the Sacramento Kings as an associate head coach, while also signing on as the head coach of the Canadian national basketball team.
With a roster composed of several NBA players, Fernandez and the Canadian side captured bronze at the recent FIBA World Cup. The medal was the first major international award the men’s side had captured since the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
“The group of guys that was there wanted to be there, wanted to play and fight for each other. But Jordi and his staff came in and they did an unbelievable job in preparing us, helping us build that culture and atmosphere, which can easily go the other way as well,” Kelly Olynyk said of Fernández following the tournament.
“He’s a great guy, very easy guy to talk to.”
It was perhaps those Canadian ties, and a strong international resume which led Nets owner Joe Tsai to hand the reins over to the native of Badalona, Spain. Tsai became a Canadian citizen many years ago, and currently holds a Canadian passport, despite being born in Taiwan.
With that bit of business now taken care of, one would assume that the Nets would now turn their attention to the upcoming NBA Draft. However, because of the previous trade for James Harden, Houston will receive the Nets first rounder this year.
Instead, Fernandez & co. will need to evaluate what the club intends to do with upcoming free agents Nicolas Claxton, Thaddeus Young, Dennis Smith, Lonnie Walker, and 6 other bench or role players whose contracts are set to expire this summer. Then there’s also the matter of Ben Simmons’ health, Mikal Bridges’ future in Brooklyn, and the franchise’s depleted warchest of picks to consider.
All in all, it’s no easy task for a first time head coach to on. But if anyone was prepared to do such a thing, it would be Fernandez.
Photo: Sandro Halank. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.