Steve Nash may have not been able to bring Dirk Nowitzki to Brooklyn to join his coaching staff, but it appears the Nets head coach managed to reel in another big man he has some history with — to say the least.
Amar’e Stoudemire, one of Nash’s teammates in Phoenix from 2004-05 to 2009-10, has “agreed to a deal to join” Brooklyn’s staff as an assistant coach.
In their six years together on the Suns, Nash and Stoudemire were both named NBA All-Stars five times over six seasons. Stoudemire was also named All-NBA four times while playing alongside Nash, while the point guard earned All-NBA honors five times while with the big man.
According to Charania, Stoudemire’s effort will primarily be focused on player development.
Stoudemire and Nash formed the league's lethal pick-and-roll duo for years in Phoenix — one Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are sure to duplicate. Stoudemire will focus on player development in Brooklyn, sources said. https://t.co/t1eXm2TuSZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2020
Adding someone like Stoudemire provides the staff with a name that commands respect, but what may be more important in all of this is how the retired big man could impact the development of Jarrett Allen and Nic Claxton.