Nets Overhaul Coaching Staff, Steve Nash Adds Big Name Assistants As Brooklyn Makes NBA Title Run

The Brooklyn Nets are providing strong indications that they plan to be serious contenders in 2020-21. A year after signing both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to max contracts, the Nets have put together a star-studded coaching staff.

Mike D’Antoni is the latest hire, joining Brooklyn as an assistant coach under new head coach Steve Nash, ESPN reports. D’Antoni was one of the league’s most successful head coaches over the last four seasons, compiling a 217-101 record with the Houston Rockets.

Only the Toronto Raptors had a better winning percentage than the Rockets over the last four years.

Ime Udoka is also expected to join Nash's staff, according to ESPN. Udoka coached with the San Antonio Spurs from 2012 to 2019 and spent last season with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 43-year-old has been rumored as a top candidate to land a head coaching job.

The moves come after the Nets in September named Nash as their new head coach in a somewhat controversial hire. Nash, who had no real ties to the organization, has no coaching experience.

Nash won two MVP awards with D’Antonio as his head coach with the Phoenix Suns. The duo made two trips to the Western Conference Finals but never reached the NBA Finals.

Along with D'Antoni and Udoka, Nash's former teammate Amar'e Stoudemire will also be part of Brooklyn's coaching staff.

The Nets are hoping Nash and D’Antonio can finally get over the hump next season. Durant was arguably playing better basketball than anyone before he suffered a torn Achilles and missed all of last year. Before injuries limited him to just 20 games last season, Irving made six All-Star teams in seven years.

Brooklyn is one of five teams with 10/1 odds or better to win the 2021 title, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Only the Milwaukee Bucks have better title odds than the Nets in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets were swept as the No.7 seed in the first round of the 2020 playoffs.