The Brooklyn Nets have announced the appointment of Jordi Fernandez as their next head coach. The 41-year-old assistant coach has been one of the fastest-rising assistants in the NBA. He previously spent six years under Michael Malone with the Denver Nuggets before joining the Sacramento Kings as their associate head coach under Mike Brown in 2022-23 season. During his tenure with the Kings, Fernandez played a key role in helping them become a winning team. Additionally, he serves as the head coach of Canada’s national team, where he guided them to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The Nets have experienced significant coaching turnover in recent years, with Kenny Atkinson being ousted during the 2018-19 season as they shifted from rebuild to contention. Steve Nash replaced him but was replaced after little over two seasons. Jacque Vaughn took over but was fired in February. Now, Fernandez steps in as head coach at a time when the team is in a transitional period following the departure of Durant, Irving and Harden.
With a surplus of draft picks acquired from trading their superstars, the Nets are looking to develop young talent and potentially trade for another star player in the future. Donovan Mitchell has been rumoured as a potential target to pair with existing key players like Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton. Bridges has a contract below market value for the next two years, giving the Nets a window to significantly enhance their roster.
Fernandez’s coaching prowess and experience at both NBA and international levels make him an exciting addition to this talented roster on its way to becoming contenders once again
