Nets guard Kyrie Irving was not really looking forward to being coached prior to the start of the 2020-21 season. Before Brooklyn’s campaign commenced, Irving suggested that the Nets’ star players could essentially coach by committee.
“I don’t really see us having a coach,” said the 28-year-old on Kevin Durant’s ETC’s podcast in October. “KD could be a head coach, I could be a head coach.”
A month prior to these comments, Steve Nash was appointed as the new head coach for the Brooklyn Nets. In a way, Irving’s take on the coaching situation seemed like a swipe at the NBA legend. Nash didn’t at all show that these comments phased him. Well, at least not out in the open for anybody to see.
It took only two months for Irving to change his stance. In December, the Nets star explained to the media how happy he was having Nash as a head coach:
“Steve’s been amazing. He kind of commands the respect. I think I’ve got to take back my comments in terms of the head coach back a few months ago. But it’s just like, man, we have such a great synergy. Everyone feels like we’re coaching one another to be better, so I’m grateful for that.”
Back in the former MVP’s playing days, efficiency separated him from his competition. The Nets head coach recorded 50-40-90 shooting splits in four different seasons. In only one year coaching Irving, the Nets guard recorded his first 50-40-90 season of his own.
Nash heavily respects his squad’s point guard from a basketball standpoint. In February, the Hall of Famer even declared Irving as more skilled than Sixers legend Allen Iverson:
“I think Kyrie (Irving) is more skilled than Allen Iverson. Iverson was different. He was electrifying in his own right. He got to the line a lot and was a crazy competitor. The variety of shot making couple with the accuracy that Kyrie has is historic.”
Following the Nets’ elimination to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round without Irving, Nash emphasized how Irving’s absence played a part:
“We’re missing Kyrie (Irving) and James (Harden) is on one leg. You have to understand it’s not the same.”
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