Stephen A. Smith called Steve Nash after saying Nets’ hire was example of white privilege

The basketball world had varying responses to the Brooklyn Nets’ announcement that Steve Nash had been hired as the franchise’s next coach.

One reaction that continues to be a major talking point originated from ESPN’s Stephen A Smith, who was the first to express Brooklyn hiring Nash without any coaching experience is an example of white privilege.

Nash was asked about the matter during his introductory press conference as Nets head coach. While he doesn’t feel the move is an example of white privilege, Nash thinks it’s a conversation that should be had.

It’s also one he saw coming.

“To be honest, I was prepared for it and expected it,” Nash said on JJ Redick’s The Old Man and the Three Podcast. “We’re in such a pivotal time for social change and racial injustice, that I expected it. It’s inflammatory right now and it should be. It should be a conversation starter. I don’t think, contextually, this is white privilege in that there’s precedence there — lots of African-American players retiring and go straight to head coaching jobs. I think I had a unique career that puts me in a position with some of those guys that allows you to ‘skip the line’ as some people said.

“But, I think it’s important that we talk about these things. I have benefited from white privilege my entire life in other ways. I don’t avoid it. I don’t necessarily think this an example where I go, ‘You know what, you’re right. I should not do this.’ But, I think it’s important to talk. I’m, hopefully, a great ally for the movement and the owners of the Nets, Joe and Clara Tsai, have been unbelievable in their commitment to making change. … I feel like I’m in a great place to be a part of change, part of the conversation to help elevate people of color and minorities to get opportunities that they deserve.”

Redick noted how Chauncey Billups has received offers to be either a general manager or head coach of an NBA team. Nash followed up by stating that players in a “sort of club.”

“Once you’re in, there’s a privilege and different lense in which we get to live our lives,” Brooklyn’s head coach said. “I think it’s just important to be aware of that.”

Nash also noted that Smith called him after his remarks on ESPN.

“Stephen A. called me and was like, ‘I didn’t mean you,'” Nash said. “He kinda did put my name [on TV], but he said ‘[I] didn’t me you’ and I know he walked it back. But part of it, that’s his job to elicit a response. It’s also a part of the way he’s talked about these positions for a long time. The way he worded it or presented it maybe put me out there as the scapegoat in a sense, but you [Redick] know what it’s like, you know the media and different levels of reporting.

“Look, I’m all in on social justice and reform and change, and all the things that we can do. I mean, from the bottom of my heart, that hurts me that our society is not equal. So, that is positive, we’re talking about it, we’re debating it. This is something that our organization’s very, very seriously. … And I think that white people have a very pivotal role to play in this because Black people have been fighting this for 400 years, and what’s not been there for them the whole time? White people. I don’t want to give us the hero complex to change this thing, but the reality is we need to make change.”