Steve Nash Transition From Great Player To Coach Came Too Soon, Journalist Claims

Steve Nash had a stellar NBA career and most expected him to follow in the footsteps of other greats, either coaching or landing a front-office job.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player may have bitten off more than he can chew when he was asked to coach the Brooklyn Nets. He joined a team with high-profile personalities and managing egos was a problem he had over trying to win an NBA title.

Speaking to PTV Sports, American journalist Roland Lazenby said that the 48-year-old Nash was too accommodating and someone who was finding his way into the world of coaching.

“Coaches can wield certain power but Steve Nash, as a coach, was mostly an accommodating guy. He was finding his way along. I guess that is the best way to put it,” the 70-year-old journalist said.

As early as the offseason, some shots were already fired, particularly Kevin Durant. It was the 34-year-old who first said that he was not that thrilled to play under Nash before retracting it all after meeting with top management.

“Kevin Durant made a stipulation over the summer that he wanted Steve Nash and the GM gone. Those are the kinds of settings that usually lead to a coach being shown the door if things don’t start off well,” Lazenby said.

“If your star player is not enthusiastic about the coach, I’m not saying that Kevin Durant tanked or anything. But they just weren’t playing with a lot of enthusiasm and fire. Obviously, they were not in sync,” he added.

When asked about the development, Durant said to reporters following the Nets' loss to the Chicago Bulls, 108-99, that he was shocked at seeing Nash and the Nets parting ways, SNY reported.

"You're always shocked when a move like this happens," Durant said on Tuesday, Nov. 1. "But it's normal in the NBA. ... It's a quick turnaround always in the league, especially during the season.”