One thing that’s been clear since the Brooklyn Nets hired Steve Nash as the franchise’s next head coach is he likes the idea of being surrounded by talent. Of course, who doesn’t want a talent-filled roster — this is more about his coaching staff.
With the announcement of Nash’s hiring, the Nets also stated Jacque Vaughn would stay on staff as an assistant. Nets general manager Sean Marks later revealed Vaughn staying on-board was important to Nash.
Then there was the report of Nash recruiting his old Dallas Mavericks teammate Dirk Nowitzki to join his staff. (Nowitzki isn’t coming to Brooklyn. Not yet, at least.)
Nash wants a team of impressive assistant coaches, and he recently explained why to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on The Woj Pod:
I’m not in a position — nor do I want to be in a position — where I come in and say this is how we’re doing everything. I come in hat-in -and in many respects/ How have you done it in the past? What do you think works?
I’m excited to have people that want to build a team together, want to have big voices no matter your level and help myself be surrounded by people who are really capable of adding and building this thing, and support me as they get up to their speed and get caught up in what it takes to be a coach, because I’m wide open to the reality that I don’t have any head coaching experience. I do have lots of experience, but not in that seat. I have improving and growing and learning to do.
While the Nets’ head coach is the first to admit he feels “like a rookie in some respects,” he’s also aware Brooklyn is a great place to grow. In fact, Nash feels “at home in some respects” already.
But while Nash has room to grow in the x’s and o’s aspect of his job — even though he knows he has a “high basketball acumen” — the Hall of Fame point guard doesn’t think that’s the most important part of his job.
“If they wanted a tactician, a pure tactician, you go to someone who’s drawn up a million plays,” Nash said to Woj. “That’s not me, as far as sitting in that seat.”
“What I can do is offer the strengths and qualities I built my career on. Part of that is being able to relate to players of all different levels. I started out as a first-round pick, had some really bad struggles at times and ended up near the top of the game. I offer a relatability to players all over the world. That helps my ability to connect and lead. I think frankly that’s a big reason I was afforded this position.”