Brooklyn’s decision to punt coach Steve Nash seven games into the NBA season could help Ben Simmons get his career back on track but it could also be a forerunner to the Australian star being shown the door as well.
Nash and the Nets “parted ways” overnight with the dual MVP now out of the ongoing dumpster fire of a franchise following a victory over Indiana, just their second of the season.
Ime Udoka, who was suspended for the season by Boston for inappropriate behaviour with a female Celtics staff member, is being lined up to take over as coach after Jacque Vaughn fills in on an interim basis, starting off with Wednesday’s 108-99 loss to Chicago to drop the Nets to a 2-6 record.
And this is all playing out while star guard Kyrie Irving has started yet another unnecessary off-court drama by posting a link – then later deleting – on social media that promoted an antisemitic film.
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“Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody? Did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people?” was Irving’s bizarre explanation for his actions when asked about it at a media conference before then trying to claim that the post was not technically promoting the controversial film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.
He then claimed via Twitter that he was being unfairly judged.
“I am an OMNIST and I meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs. The “Anti-Semitic” label that is being pushed on me is not justified and does not reflect the reality or truth I live in everyday. I embrace and want to learn from all walks of life and religions.”
Irving has caused drama at Cleveland, Boston and Brooklyn with his flat Earth and anti-vaccination but after opting into a one-year extension to his time at Brooklyn, he’s unlikely to be sent packing while he retains the support of superstar teammate Kevin Durant.
Nash did not have KD’s approval because he told Tsai he wanted the coach and GM Sean Marks fired in the off-season.
The fact that Nash is now gone after the first fortnight of the regular season means Nets owner Joe Tsai is yet again letting his star players make decisions which should be above their astronomical pay grade. Marks should be nervous.
Zion Williamson dribbles past Ben Simmons. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Simmons is on the periphery of all this.
He’s sidelined with a minor knee problem but should be back soon. How long he remains at Brooklyn remains to be seen.
The 26-year-old former All-Star has been a shell of his former self in his comeback season after a year out during the circus-like end to his time at Philadelphia due to his trade demands, mental health issues and back problem.
Simmons has averaged 6.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting at 44.1% from the field and 46.7% from the free throw line.
All that talk about working on his game during the pre-season has turned out to be just that. He’s defending well enough for a team that is stacked with offensive-focused players and his rebounding and assist numbers are decent but he’s still a non-factor when it comes to putting the ball in the basket.
Durant and Irving are averaging over 30 points per game and they’ve still lost six of eight. Well, Kyrie was until he scored just four against the Bulls to plummet to 26.9.
If he does get traded, he may end up in a better situation at a rebuilding team that can complement his skills with shooters. Or he could end up at another team which views him as nothing more than a defensive stopper who should get out of the way on offence and for the remainder of his career he bounces around never quite fitting in.
Udoka, a former Nets assistant, performed wonders with Boston last season in his rookie campaign as a head coach, taking the Celtics to the NBA Finals after instilling a defensive toughness in them and getting the best out of star duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
He will certainly improve Brooklyn’s porous defence but can he get Simmons to shoot with conviction? Will the Nets even bother persisting with Simmons or will he be the one who is traded mid-season rather than the problematic Irving or the eternally restless Durant?
And whether he should be allowed to return is debatable. He was stood down by Boston for undisclosed incidents that were serious enough to warrant a one-year ban. If the NBA allows him to simply switch teams after effectively serving just a couple of weeks out as a head coach, it raises ethical questions for Commissioner Adam Silver to answer.
Hall of Fame centre Shaquille O’Neal has no time for Irving’s wild conspiracy theories and laid into the Australian-born guard on Inside the NBA.
“The game we love and we promote, it brings people together. It hurts me sometimes when we have to sit up here to talk about stuff that divides the game. We gotta answer for what this idiot has done.
“I stand for equality of all people. It don’t matter what religion, no matter where you’re from … That’s how I was raised. I can’t speak for him or answer for what he’s done. It’s obvious by his answers and the way he answered, he doesn’t really care.
“You have to be aware of what you’re doing and you have to be aware that sometimes when you put stuff out, not everybody’s going to like it.
“Some people are conscious, some people are not. I can tell that he’s not conscious, he doesn’t really care what’s going on.”
The Nets issued a statement condemning Irving’s statement but does anyone think that’s going to stop him from being an eternal distraction.
Irving’s refusal to be vaccinated, which meant he was unable to play home games because of New York City mandates at the time, torpedoed Brooklyn’s chances last season.
Despite the Irving dramas and James Harden forcing his way out mid-season in the Simmons trade, Nash still ended up with a 92-62 record after taking Brooklyn to the playoffs in both full seasons during his first outing as an NBA coach.
Kyrie Irving (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Injuries to Irving and Harden scuppered their chances in 2020-21 when they exited in the second round to eventual champions Milwaukee in a series which still could have gone either way but last season they were swept by Boston in the first round.
“Since becoming head coach, Steve was faced with a number of unprecedented challenges, and we are sincerely grateful for his leadership, patience and humility throughout his tenure,” Marks said in the Nets statement announcing Nash’s departure.
“Personally, this was an immensely difficult decision. However, after much deliberation and evaluation of how the season has begun, we agreed that a change is necessary at this time.”
Nash posted a tweet titled “Thank you, Brooklyn” as he made a dignified exit from the burning building.
“A very heartfelt thanks to Joe and Clara Tsai along with Sean Marks for giving me the opportunity to coach the Brooklyn Nets,” Nash posted. “It was an amazing experience with many challenges that I’m incredibly grateful for.”
He’s surely now incredibly grateful to leave it in the rear-view mirror and join one of the 29 other NBA franchises were are run more professionally. Actually, 28. Yes, you Sacramento.
Everything is in flux at Brooklyn and unless Udoka can take control, it’s going to descend further and further into chaos.
Ben Simmons will not play again this season.
Russwell Westbrook's turbulent two seasons at the Lakers has come to an abrupt end.
The Nets have sent Kyrie Irving on his way after he requested a trade.
Ben Simmons has his swagger back. If you don't love that, then you don't love NBA basketball.
All the talking points from the first couple of nights in the NBA.
