Following five consecutive losses out of their first seven games this season, the Brooklyn Nets fired head coach Steve Nash.
The 48-year-old has been with the squad since 2020 and has led them to the playoffs in successive seasons.
“It was a pleasure to work with the players, performance team, and front office every day,” said Nash.
The announcement comes as Nets prepare to face the Chicago Bulls at home on Tuesday.
“I wish the Nets all the success in the world and the Nashs will be rooting for our team as they turn this season around,” Nash said in a statement on Instagram.
Steve Nash Possible Replacement
Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics and Quin Snyder of the former Utah Jazz will compete for the position of head coach, with assistant coach Jacques Vaughn serving as the interim coach.
“Personally, this was an immensely difficult decision,” general manager Sean Marks said in a statement.
“After much deliberation and evaluation of how the season has begun, we agreed that a change is necessary at this time.”
Recently, fans wore “Fight Anti-Semitism” T-shirts during the game against the Indiana Pacers after point guard Kyrie Irving was criticised for a social media post about a movie with anti-Jewish stereotypes, a problem Nash has had with players on the Nets.
For choosing not to have a Covid-19 vaccination before to the vaccine obligation being lifted, Irving only participated in 29 regular-season games of the 82-game season last year.
“Steve was faced with a number of unprecedented challenges, and we are sincerely grateful for his leadership, patience and humility throughout his tenure,” said Marks.
