Nets forward Kevin Durant said on Tuesday night that he was surprised to learn of Steve Nash‘s exit from his position as Brooklyn’s head coach, as Nick Friedell of ESPN writes.
“You’re always shocked when a move like this happens,” Durant said after the Nets’ loss to Chicago. “But it’s normal in the NBA. It’s about getting ready for the game tonight. It’s a quick turn always in the league, especially during the season. You’ve got practice, games coming up, so you can’t think too much about it. It was on my mind for a little bit today.”
As Friedell notes, Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters earlier in the day on Tuesday that he hadn’t consulted with Durant and/or Kyrie Irving before making the decision to part ways with Nash. Durant’s comments seemed to confirm that was true.
Asked why he felt like things didn’t work out with Nash in Brooklyn, Durant didn’t blame his former head coach for the team’s shortcomings, even though offseason reports indicated that he had pushed for Nash’s firing.
“We didn’t have a healthy team. We just didn’t play well,” Durant said. “And that’s what happens in the league. S–t happens. That doesn’t take away from Steve’s basketball IQ, how he teaches the game. I don’t think that takes away from anything. It just didn’t work out.”
Asked in Miami about Nash’s departure, Steve Kerr – one of the NBA’s longest-tenured head coaches – essentially agreed with Durant’s assessment, referring to Nash as “brilliant” and suggesting that the former MVP could thrive in a more “stable environment,” according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link).
“Erik’s got a (solid situation) here,” Kerr said, referring to Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. “I’ve got one in Golden State. We’re really lucky. You throw either one of us in that situation, we wouldn’t have done any better than Steve. That’s the truth.”
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Ian Begley of SNY.tv, who previously reported that the Nets had briefly engaged in “cursory” trade talks with a Western Conference team, says those discussions were about a veteran shooter, adding that Ben Simmons‘ name came up. While Begley cautions that those talks may not have advanced beyond the exploratory stage, he says Brooklyn was rumored to be “aggressive” in its pursuit of shooting.
- Like the NBA did on Saturday, the National Basketball Players Association issued a fairly toothless statement on Tuesday, condemning antisemitism in general terms without mentioning NBPA vice president Irving by name or specifically rebuking his promotion of an antisemitic film on social media.
- During Tuesday’s TNT broadcast, broadcaster and former NBA star Reggie Miller called out the players’ response to the Irving situation, expressing dissatisfaction that there has been silence from players who haven’t hesitated to speak out on other social justice issues, writes Ryan Glasspiegel of The New York Post. “The players have dropped the ball on this case when it’s been one of their own. It’s been crickets,” Miller said after lauding the players’ criticism of owners like Donald Sterling and Robert Sarver. “And it’s disappointing, because this league has been built on the shoulders of the players being advocates. Right is right and wrong is wrong.”
- If the Nets move forward with their reported plan to hire Ime Udoka as their new head coach, it could be another landmine for the franchise, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post, who notes that the full story on Udoka’s off-court conduct in Boston still hasn’t come out publicly. As Lewis relays, a league insider told NetsDaily that Udoka “repeatedly” sent inappropriate messages to women on the Celtics‘ staff.
- Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports makes the case that the best play for the dysfunctional Nets would be to trade Durant.
- ESPN’s Brian Windhorst passes along all of Sean Marks‘ noteworthy statements from his Tuesday media session, attempting to read between the lines of those comments.
Hypocrite, is the way I see it.
Rockets say burn it all down !!
Nash should have never been hired, should have been fired during his 1st year, after his first year, during his 2nd year, after his 2nd year, during the offseason when the KD stuff was happening, and during the preseason, so it’s more surprising he made it this far
They still need to address depth at the 4/5 spots, but going with the roster they have, a lot is helped by replacing Claxton with Joe Harris in the starting lineup. Simmons does not need to score on this team. He needs to play defense, ve a ball mover, and a playmaker around their shooters/scorers. Start him at the 5
Simmons has to score points and be an offensive threat in order for that team to be it’s best. Basically, be what he was in Philly… offensively aggressive (sans jumpshots). You really don’t want him shooting jumpshots – those are the same as turnovers. Just play downhill and attack.
Can’t just be a passer or simply stand in the corner or the dunker spot.
You wouldn’t say it’s ok to play defense 4v5…
Can’t play offense 4v5 either.
Well, not if you’re trying to win at a high level.
You’re misunderstanding the point. I’m saying he doesnt need to take a bunch of shots. Obviously, you take what the defense gives you, but he doesnt have to put up a bunch of shots every night, and if others are scoring, then naturally, his scoring numbers should go down, but that doesnt mean he cant still be super effective for them by using his strengths, but as I said, for him to do that, they need to use him the right way, the same way I would say that about anyone
Simmons will never score the ball. Stop that nonsense. The kid isn’t a player. Will never find a shot he likes. Will always sit at crunch time.
Nets are the biggest circus the NBA has seen since the Jail Blazers.
This is what happens when you allow some prima donna sport players making millions to have a voice in team’s decisions. Who gives them the right? The owners themselves? The league? The media? Fans should be treated with respect. At the end of the day the fan are the ones paying for a sad circus like the nets are right now…
I liked Irving’s idea about making everyone on the team the head coach.
Spoelstra definitely would’ve done better than Nash did. He won 2 titles in a very similar situation
lmao the Heat situation with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh is nothing like the Nets situation. Come on.
Nets aggressive in trade talks with a western team regarding a veteran shooter and Simmonds?
Just spit balling, but sounds like they’re trying to get some of their picks back from Houston along with Eric Gordon. Who else would they be “aggressive” with for a vetran shooter in exchange for Ben?
Truth is Eric Gordon has no business in a rebuilding team. He should be shooting threes from the bench for a contender
No argument, but Houston believes he is worth a first and won’t let him go for any less. He’ll most likely be moved him at the TD for next to nothing if they can’t get what they want.
I actually despise Kyrie Irving. Like, he’s literally my least favorite player across all 4 sports. But I am bothered by the hate on this one. He didn’t actually say or endorse anything antisemitic, and people keep skipping over that very important detail. Enjoying a movie isn’t the same thing as agreeing with 100% of things said in the movie. We already know this because Schindler’s List won like 7 different awards.
I’m not going to be naive and say that Kyrie doesn’t agree with the movie. Knowing him, he probably does. But until he actually makes such statements, he shouldn’t be treated as though he did. Until then, this is all just a bunch of projecting.
“He didn’t actually say or endorse anything antisemitic”
He endorsed a movie that is anti-semitic. Stop tiptoeing around this. And your comparison of a movie pushing anti-semitic conspiracy theories and opinions with Schindler’s List is appalling, and makes me wonder if you understand the concept of film.
Retweeting something like that is an endorsement. Have you watched it? Do you support the views in it? But he didn’t endorse Schindler’s List.
And the Benny Hill theme song continues to play in Brooklyn…
Nash= major high character guy now gone
Udoka= couldn’t follow simple conduct rules in Boston on the way in
Kyrie says whatever he wants; KD gets what he wants for sure; Marks is next
Joe Tsai is bound to whatever KD orders him to do
The circus will continue and I will root against them as long as they have Kyrie
Nothing against Brooklyn or the Nets, I love NYC
The day Kyrie is out of the NBA drinks are on me!!
LOL I will take your word for it “NBA drinks are on you/me”… That was hilarious…
Just trade Wiggins and Kuminga for KD and get it over with already
LOL
“As Lewis relays, a league insider told NetsDaily that Udoka “repeatedly” sent inappropriate messages to women on the Celtics‘ staff.”
This is the first time I recall seeing it reported as “women,” multiple. All the other references I’ve seen (I think… I am old…) seemed to indicate that it was one woman.
Trading Durant doesn’t make a lot of sense at this point. Even though he’s playing at a high level, the state of the team drops his value below the offers they were getting this summer. Kyrie had a goose egg for three quarters last night and his behavior has been toxic. If LeBron is the only one who can get through to him then the Nets should do whatever they could to get Westbrook for him if there’s any way trade exceptions and money exchanging hands can make the trade work financially. His talent is undeniable and they’re not going to release him or buy him out but he’s a big part if not the biggest part of what led to the current mess.