By Ben Golliver
New York: Steve Nash is out as Brooklyn Nets coach after a disappointing start to the NBA season and more controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving.
The Nets announced Tuesday that they had parted ways with the Hall of Fame point guard, a day after they beat Indiana to improve to 2-5.
Nash made it to this season after Kevin Durant said he wanted him out this summer, but not much longer. The Nets have been another mess, with bad play on the court and bad headlines off it.
The biggest — again — was created by the Melbourne-born Irving, who posted a link to an antisemitic work on his Twitter page last week, drawing criticism from Nets owner Joe Tsai.
“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,” general manager Sean Marks said in a statement.
“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.”
Steve Nash has been sacked by the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.Credit:AP
A group of fans seated courtside at the Nets game on Monday night (Tuesday AEDT) at Barclays Center aimed a pointed message at Irving, wearing black T-shirts that read “Fight antisemitism”.
Last week, the Nets guard tweeted a link to Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, a 2018 movie based on a book that contains antisemitic tropes. Irving said he was not antisemitic but defended his tweet Saturday night, telling reporters: “I’m not going to stand down on anything I believe in. I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.”
After criticism from Tsai and the Anti-Defamation League, and a statement from the NBA condemning hate speech but not naming Irving, he deleted the tweet Sunday. That was not before he earned praise on Instagram from rapper Kanye West, himself embroiled in an antisemitism storm of late which has seen him lose millions in endorsements.
Aaron Jungreis, a Nets season ticket holder who was one of eight fans wearing the shirts, told ESPN he thought Irving should have been suspended for his comments.
“We felt that the Nets did not condemn an antisemite in their ranks,” Jungreis said, “and we wanted to show love. We’re still Net fans and we love the team, but they should reprimand Kyrie because he’s full of hate. We’re full of love. Hopefully he’ll come around to the other side.”
Mike Dube, another fan in the group, told SNY that Irving greeted them, saying he appreciated them during a timeout.
Irving was not made available to reporters after the Nets’ 116-109 win over the Indiana Pacers. Jungreis cited Irving’s combative news conference Saturday night as another factor in the fans’ decision to send a message.
“I hope he realises how much antisemitism he is stoking by putting out [a link to] a film like this, which is extremely anti-Jewish,” Jungreis said. “And I hope he comes to his senses … I think he should be suspended and he should understand what he did, but I don’t know if [the Nets] will [suspend him].”
The Nets may move quickly to replace Nash. A person with knowledge of the matter said the Nets were in discussions with suspended Boston coach Ime Udoka — a former Brooklyn assistant who is not with the Celtics this season because he was found to have violated team rules by having a relationship with a female staffer within the organisation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because those talks were not revealed publicly. Jacque Vaughn will serve as acting head coach against Chicago on Tuesday (Wednesday 10.30am AEDT).
AP with The Washington Post.
