Nets: 3 reasons Steve Nash hire is smarter than you think

The Nets hired Steve Nash despite the Hall of Famer not having any coaching experience.

It all happened so fast.

The last we heard of the Brooklyn Nets’ coaching search came on Tuesday, when The Athletic reported that fan favorite Jacque Vaughn, who led the team to a 5-3 record in the bubble, formally interviewed for the position and left a lasting impression on ownership.

We also found out that Spurs boss Gregg Popovich, who has long been on the radar of general manger Sean Marks, put his two-story mansion in San Antonio up for sale. As expected, this prompted the fanbase to think that there was actually a chance the legendary coach could spurn the franchise with which he spent the last 24 seasons and won five championships.

Then, however, Thursday morning happened and, out of nowhere, the Nets signed Steve Nash to a four-year contract to become their next head coach.

For all we know, we could still be in shock from this bombshell, but it hasn’t taken very long for us to warm up to the decision. While this certainly isn’t the high-profile name fans in Brooklyn were expecting, here are three reasons why hiring Nash is actually smarter than you might think.

3. He Could Work Wonders With Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving’s one-dimensional play could use Nash’s guidance.

Before you come at our necks, nobody is saying that Kyrie Irving’s scoring repertoire needs an upgrade. The Nets point guard has averaged more than 23 points for four straight seasons and is one of the most elegant finishers in the game.

However, if there’s one aspect of Irving’s game that could use polishing, it’s his vision or willingness to pass. That’s not to suggest that the six-time All-Star is a poor playmaker — he’s averaged 6.4 assists for his career — but he’s always been a shoot-first ball handler.

That’s where Nash, who is indisputably one of the greatest passers the sport has have seen, comes in. Across his 18-year career, he compiled 10,335 assists (which ranks third all-time) and led the league in that category in five different seasons.

Nash’s vision and knack for keeping his dribble alive while maneuvering around the trees in the paint was a sight to behold, and Irving could take his game (and the Nets) to another level if he’s willing to sit down and listen to the former two-time MVP’s wisdom.

2. He Worked With Three Current Nets in Golden State

Steve Nash worked as a player development consultant with the Warriors.

It was widely reported that general manager Sean Marks was keen on hiring a coach who had some sort of familiarity with the organization, whether it be with a few players and coaches (or both). Luckily for the Nets, their new head coach falls under both categories.

Prior to the 2016 Draft, Brooklyn assistant Adam Harrington sent Caris LeVert, who was on the Nets radar, to work out in California with none other than Kevin Durant and Steve Nash. At the time, both of them were with the Golden State Warriors. For those unaware, the latter was working as a player development consultant.

Fast forward to present day, and all three of LeVert, Durant and Nash are in Brooklyn. We all know that KD has tremendous respect for the Hall of Fame point guard, but the fact that Nash has also connected with LeVert in the past makes us much more comfortable with the hire.

KD’s influence here likely played a big role in getting Nash to BK.

1. Offense Could Become More Electric

Nash’s experience in one of the fastest offenses ever could make the Nets even more dynamic.

If you didn’t enjoy watching the Phoenix Suns in the mid-2000s, can you even consider yourself a basketball fan? Maybe a fast-paced offense isn’t for everybody, but they were truly a sight to behold with head coach Mike D’Antoni and Nash at the point running the show.

While the Suns offense was electric for years with Nash, their showing in 2004-05 was groundbreaking. They widely became known as the “seven seconds or less” offense. That year, Phoenix finished with the best record (62-20) and registered the second-highest efficiency rating of all time, behind Nash’s Mavs in ’03-’04). You can bet that Nash has a few tricks up his sleeves from his days under D’Antonio, who’s one of the greatest offensive-minded coaches ever.

What could also prove to benefit the Canada native is his experience with the Warriors, who — thanks to a fluid offense that emphasized ball movement — ensured that each of their stars got enough touches.

The 46-year-old is too smart not to have taken dozens of pages of notes from his tenure in the Bay Area. Considering how many offensive weapons Brooklyn has as its disposal, well, fans shouldn’t be surprised if the team ranks close to the top in almost every major statistical category on offense.