The Brooklyn Nets experiment was supposed to be perfect. Kevin Durant, Steve Nash, and championship dreams all under one roof. Instead, it became one of the NBA’s most talked-about failures, leaving everyone wondering what went wrong with such talent.
Why Did Kevin Durant Defend Steve Nash’s Brooklyn Coaching Stint?
Kevin Durant and Steve Nash spent significant time together when they were part of the Brooklyn Nets. While the two-time NBA champion headed East after his three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Nash was appointed as the team’s head coach in 2020, the same year that Durant made his Brooklyn debut.
The partnership wasn’t successful as the Nets couldn’t reach the deeper end of the playoffs despite star-studded names in Durant and Kyrie Irving. Nash and the Nets parted ways during the 2022-23 season.
Recently, Durant weighed in on Nash’s tumultuous tenure in his first head coaching stint during his appearance on the “Mind the Game” podcast. The second part of the episode featuring the Houston Rockets star saw Durant, Nash, and LeBron James discuss the former guard’s forgettable Brooklyn stint.
Speaking on the podcast, the trio discussed Nash’s time with the Nets, and Durant was candid when he defended the Hall of Famer. “I just think your hands were tied too many times,” Durant said.
“You had to be a super-principal, a principal more so than anything. You know what I’m saying? Like, you just couldn’t inject your basketball, you know what I’m saying? Just everything that you have basketball, I didn’t feel like you could inject that into everybody in the way that we all envisioned.
“Just because of the distractions and injuries. More than anything, I think it’s injuries, ’cause I feel like we had a good chance to win that first year. I think we had a great chance to win it that year… or step on the line.”
Durant further added, “So s**t happens that way, man. But I don’t think that should be an indictment on anybody. It’s just like, people don’t understand context, though. What truly happens and how you need to be really connected as a group. Like they just looked at the names and thought it’s going to be perfect.”
What Led to Steve Nash’s Departure from Brooklyn?
Nash was fired as the Nets’ coach on Nov. 1, 2022. Brooklyn was off to a 2-5 start to the season despite Durant, Irving, and Ben Simmons all beginning the campaign with the team. The events leading up to his exit also included Irving’s promotion of an antisemitic documentary on social media.
In just over two seasons, Nash led the Nets with a 94-67 record, but the postseason record had just one series win to show for it.
The challenges began early for Nash. It was a tough start from the beginning, especially with injuries to Durant and Simmons. Pair that with James Harden’s disastrous stint in Brooklyn, and Nash was let go.
Adding to the drama was Irving’s refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which saw him miss most of the 2021-22 season because of the city rules that applied. The mandate saw the mercurial guard miss the home games for the Nets. The stint was also Nash’s last role as a head coach.
Meanwhile, Durant has moved on to new opportunities. He will play for the Rockets after a blockbuster move during this summer’s free agency. Only time will tell if he can win his third title under Ime Udoka, but this might be the best chance he’s had since his time in Golden State.
