BREAKING: Steve Nash To Become Next Brooklyn Nets Head Coach

In one of the more shocking recent developments, the Brooklyn Nets made Steve Nash the 23rd head coach in the Nets’ franchise history, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday morning. Nash will sign with the Nets on a four-year deal.

Nash, a Hall of Fame guard and two-time winner of the League’s Most Valuable Player award, has never had any prior head coaching experience, but brings a strong relationship with Nets star Kevin Durant, brought about during his consultant role with the Golden State Warriors.

Brooklyn is expected to keep Jacque Vaughn in a predominantly leading coaching role as one of the highest-paid assistants in the NBA, as he made a strong impression on Nets General Manager Sean Marks and Nets owner Joseph Tsai after taking over for the recently ex-coach Kenny Atkinson back in February, including the league’s restart in Orlando with the Nets’ makeshift team. Vaughn would’ve likely been the Nets choice had Nash been unconvinced of taking the job, sources confirmed.

As it goes for the Nets, Nash brings a plethora of knowledge to the coaching position as one of the greatest guards to ever play the position, and more specifically, experience to guide Kyrie Irving. Another main contributor to this signing: Nets GM Marks was a teammate of Nash’s with the Suns, and has kept a good relationship with him through the years.

Since his retirement in 2015, Nash had been in the circle of potential names to fill vacancies of different executive and coaching responsibilities. This could end up being a big-time hire if all goes well in his first season, and with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the charge for a new-look Nets team, Nash’s inaugural season could see the Nets eclipse 50 wins an immediate powerhouse in the East.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Elise Amendola