Tag: Steve Hetzel

Who is Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel?

The Brooklyn Nets reportedly hired Steve Hetzel as assistant coach on Apr. 21. Here’s what you need to know about him.

The Brooklyn Nets are moving forward with their offseason to-do list as they have hired former Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez to be the head coach of the team moving forward. Now that Fernandez is in place as the head man, it looks like he isn’t wasting time building his staff.

On Apr. 21, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that former Portland Trail Blazers assistant Steve Hetzel would be joining Fernandez’s coaching staff for the same role. While the Nets have not confirmed that Hetzel will indeed be joining the team as an assistant coach, it’s fair to talk about who Hetzel is.

Hetzel began his NBA career in the 2005-06 season as an assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs before becoming the video coordinator for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2006 to 2009. From there, Hetzel spent the following four seasons as a player development coach for the Detroit Pistons (2009-13) before becoming the head coach of the G League’s Canton Charge for the 2013-14 season.

After that, Hetzel was an assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets (2014-18) and the Orlando Magic (2018-21) as a member of Steve Clifford’s coaching staff during that time span. Hetzel tried to find his way to a potential head-coaching gig somewhere else by being an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers under head coach Chauncey Billups, starting with the 2021-22 campaign.

Hetzel has spent the past three seasons with the Trail Blazers prior to coming to Brooklyn to be an assistant coach for Fernandez. For those wondering, Hetzel and Fernandez crossed paths during the 2013-14 season when both were on the coaching staff for the Charge as Hetzel was the head coach and Fernandez was an assistant.

[lawrence-related id=58574,58568,58565]

Report: Nets to hire Steve Hetzel as assistant coach

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Sunday that the Brooklyn Nets are hiring Steve Hetzel as an assistant coach to Jordi Fernandez.

The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of an important offseason for them as they look to improve the team in multiple ways this summer. With the goal of getting back to the playoffs, Brooklyn appears to be moving forward with the formation of its coaching staff now that Jordi Fernandez is officially available.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Sunday that the Nets will be hiring Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Steve Hetzel to Fernandez’s coaching staff. Hetzel has been spent the past three seasons as a member of Chauncey Billups’ staff with the Trail Blazers in which the team went a combined 81-165.

Hetzel began his NBA career in the 2005-06 season as an assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs before becoming the video coordinator for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2006 to 2009. After his time in Cleveland, Hetzel became a player development coach with the Detroit Pistons from 2009 to 2013.

Following his time with the Pistons, Hetzel was the head coach of the G League’s Canton Charge during the 2013-14 season, leading the team to a 28-22 record during that campaign. From there, Hetzel served as a member of Steve Clifford’s coaching staff with the Charlotte Hornets (2014-18) and the Orlando Magic (2018-21).

With the beginning of the 2021-22 season, Hetzel served as a member of Billups’ coaching staff, including when he served as the head coach of Portland’s Summer League team that he led to a championship that summer. Fernandez is already beginning the process of shaping his coaching staff so a formal announcement of him being named head coach for Brooklyn should be expected soon.

[lawrence-related id=58512,58509,58500]

Orlando’s approach to rebuilding Fultz, …

Orlando’s approach to rebuilding Fultz, 21, was methodical. The rehab came first—it was mid-summer before Fultz started playing. From there it was one-on-one. Then three-on-three. Hammond recalls watching those early three-on-three’s and being wowed by the things Fultz could do. Magic assistant coach Steve Hetzel became attached to Fultz’s hip. They ran pick-and-roll drills to sharpen Fultz’s skills. They used blocking pads to get Fultz’s shoulder used to contact. Hetzel, Fultz said, would whack away at him. He would bump him going to the basket. He would bang him in the post. Slowly, Fultz grew comfortable playing through contact.