Steve Nash has hired old friend Amar’e Stoudemire to help coach the Brooklyn Nets.
When Steve Nash was hired to be the 22nd coach in the Brooklyn Nets franchise history, speculation rose around who Nash would hire for his staff aside from Jacque Vaughn (the highest-paid assistant in the NBA). Would Jared Dudley retire after winning a ring and rejoin Brooklyn as a coach? Would Mike D’Antoni take a step back and let his former player boss him around? Would Chauncey Billups jump on staff and provide two Hall of Fame point guards to mentor Kyrie? Would Dirk come out of retirement and leave Dallas to help his good buddy Steve in Brooklyn? Well, on Friday, October 23rd, the first hire was made. And it might’ve been the smartest option.
The Nets announced that former All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire would be the first new assistant of the Nash era. The two were a dynamic duo on the seven-seconds-or-less Suns in their six years together. During those six years, the two were both named NBA All-Stars five times over six seasons. Stoudemire was also named All-NBA four times while playing alongside Nash, while the point guard earned All-NBA honors five times while with the big man. Together, they were an elite pick and roll combo for Mike D’Antoni.
Looking at former teammates as assistants was an anticipated move by Nash. But no one expected Dirk or Joe Johnson or anyone as elite as Stoudemire. It’s another shocking hire in an extremely important offseason for the Nets. According to Shams Charania, Stoudemire will be focusing on player development with the Nets.
Stoudemire and Nash formed the league's lethal pick-and-roll duo for years in Phoenix -- one Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are sure to duplicate. Stoudemire will focus on player development in Brooklyn, sources said. https://t.co/t1eXm2TuSZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2020
Stoudemire’s focus on player development is important for a few reasons.
To start, he knows how to be a dominant roll man in a fast-paced offense. This should help any of our big men, whether it be DeAndre Jordan, Jarrett Allen, or even Rodions Kurucs and Nic Claxton, who could become better running mates for Kyrie Irving. It also hints at the potential 1-3 pick-and-roll that Irving and Durant could form. Coach Nash has to be smiling at the prospect of having two of the best players in the world run a pick-and-roll, something only two other teams, the Lakers and Clippers, can say. Stoudemire also has experience being the second option in a high powered offense. He can help Irving and Durant take the step back when the other (or Caris LeVert or Spencer Dinwiddie) commands the ball.
Stoudemire will also be key in helping Brooklyn’s young bigs take the next step in their development. Jarrett Allen has been a key part of the Nets’ success over the past few years and is consistently improving. In the bubble, Allen showed more of a willingness to shoot the floaters or take a mid-range jump shot. Stoudemire can help him find his spots for the floaters and mid-range shots while improving Allen’s rim running.
The biggest development piece comes with Claxton. The Georgia product showed elite progression in the G-League and in limited action in the NBA. Claxton has tremendous drive and hustle while being able to run the floor and get boards. Nolan Jensen had this to say about how Claxton can be successful next season.
"To be successful on a team with title aspirations next season, Claxton does not have to go far beyond the call of duty. Learning to operate organically within the flow of the offense, making the right reads with the ball in his hands (DeAndre Jordan has taken him under his wing and given him tips on passing as a big), and providing the team with a spark off the bench will likely pay dividends. And because of some salary cap manipulations last July, the Nets will have him through 2021-22 at a bargain basement price."
Stoudemire can help Claxton evolve his elite rim running and energetic gameplay. On a team with incredible depth at the center position, Claxton’s willingness to shoot the three puts him in the conversation as a stretch four. Again, Stoudemire’s influence will be significant here. With young big men, it’s always good to have some All-Stars teaching them.
Stoudemire was the first of a series of moves the Nets need to make before next season. Like the Nash hiring, this came as a shock, because Stoudemire has spent the past few years playing in Israel and China. Nevertheless, Stoudemire could prove to be one of the most valuable pieces of an already elite coaching staff trying to push Brooklyn towards the Larry O’Brien trophy.
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