Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash was unexpectedly hired by the Brooklyn Nets Thursday to be their next head coach.
Nash, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018, signed a four-year contract with the Nets, according to ESPN.
USA TODAY’s Jeff Zillgit reports:
Nash spent the past five seasons as a player development consultant with the Golden State Warriors where he got to know All-Star Kevin Durant, who now plays for the Nets and once called Nash one of the best basketball minds he knows. But there was no public indication Nash wanted the Nets job.
“Coaching is something I knew I wanted to pursue when the time was right, and I am humbled to be able to work with the outstanding group of players and staff we have here in Brooklyn,” Nash said in a statement released Thursday morning. “I am as excited about the prospects of the team on the court as I am about moving to Brooklyn with my family and becoming impactful members of this community.”
Nash wasn’t among the names who were publicly being considered for the job. Give Nets general manager Sean Marks credit for keeping that quiet and allowing the process to play out.
“After meeting with a number of highly accomplished coaching candidates from diverse backgrounds, we knew we had a difficult decision to make,” Marks said in a statement. “In Steve we see a leader, communicator and mentor who will garner the respect of our players. I have had the privilege to know Steve for many years.
“One of the great on-court leaders in our game, I have witnessed firsthand his basketball acumen and selfless approach to prioritize team success. His instincts for the game, combined with an inherent ability to communicate with and unite players towards a common goal, will prepare us to compete at the highest levels of the league.”