Since taking over as head coach of the Nets in 2020, fans have joked that it’s the easiest job in the league. Just like any super-team, the Nets have enough talent to challenge any team in the league. Nash, while playing a pivotal role, gets to enjoy certain luxuries that coaches on less fortunate teams do not.
It’s an interesting narrative that often gets talked about regarding the Nets, Warriors, and even the Lakers to some degree.
So when Nash joked about coaching being “overrated” people couldn’t help but raise their eyebrows.
“Coaching is very overrated so it’s not the biggest deal,” quips head coach Steve Nash, asked about playing against teams whose coach is out in protocol.”
“Coaching is very overrated so it’s not the biggest deal,” quips head coach Steve Nash, asked about playing against teams whose coach is out in protocol.
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) January 1, 2022
It’s a funny quip from Nash, but also pretty interesting given what Kyrie Irving said months ago.
Back when Nash was hired, the star point guard seemingly refused to acknowledge Nash as the coach.
“I don’t really see us having a head coach,” Irving said, via Alec Sturm of Nets Republic. “You know what I mean? KD could be a head coach. I could be a head coach. It’s a collaborative effort.”
Steve is great, and I have a relationship with him that’s going to build over time, bro. Steve don’t know me from anything he heard or he’s heard someone else. We’ve worked out one time in 2014, but it’s grown as just a respectful relationship from afar. I saw him at the Hall of Fame two years ago, gave him a big hug and now he’s the head coach. And I think it’s also going to change the way we see coaches.”
To some degree, Brooklyn’s “big three” certainly makes life easy for Nash. Not many other coaches have the same level of talent available as he does.
But really, Nash has an enormous impact on the squad, even if it’s hard to see sometimes. His leadership, wisdom, and game plan have no doubt played a role in the team’s success so far.