Steve Nash has honest admission about his failed coaching stint with Nets

Mar 31, 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA; Former basketball player Steve Nash speaks during the NBA Hall of Fame press conference at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

NBA legend Steve Nash recently offered some insight on his failed NBA coaching debut with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets hired Nash to be the team’s head coach for the 2020-21 season — Brooklyn’s first with both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving healthy and on the floor.

But despite coaching a Nets core that eventually included former MVP James Harden, Brooklyn never made it past the second round. Nash was fired just seven games into his third season.

Nash spoke to Eurohoops’ Cesare Milanti over the weekend during the “Night of the Dragon” event, which was an exhibition game to celebrate Nash’s former teammate Goran Dragic’s retirement.

The 50-year-old touched on his time with the Nets. Nash admitted that he wasn’t planning on coaching but Brooklyn offered him a “unique situation” to steer the ship for a star-studded roster.

Nash also admitted that he was “surprised” by how little contact he was able to have with his players.

“I was surprised when I coached, you’re not in the team that much,” said Nash. “You have five minutes with players before the game, at halftime, and after the game. Those are the only times when you address the team. I wanted to connect with every player individually. It’s important to build a culture and an environment where people believe and see them be their best. You need to feel that you want them to become the best version of themselves.”

There were reports that Irving was at odds with Nash toward the end of the latter’s tenure with the Nets.

Nash developed a reputation during his playing career that he was one of the best leaders of his era. But even he admits that coaching is a different beast entirely.