NEW YORK — Nets star forward Kevin Durant said he was “shocked” when he learned of Steve Nash’s departure as Brooklyn coach on Tuesday, a move the organization announced as mutual .
“You’re always shocked when a move like this happens,” Durant said after a 108-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. “But that’s normal in the NBA. It’s about getting ready for tonight’s game. It’s always a quick turnaround in the league, especially during the season. You have practices, games coming up, so you can’t think too much about It’s been on my mind for a little while today.
Durant said he found out about the Nash news around 1:15 p.m. ET after waking up from a pre-game nap and watching ESPN. Nets general manager Sean Marks said before the game that no players were consulted ahead of the decision, which is notable given Durant reportedly called for Nash and Marks to be fired over the summer. before canceling his pre-season trade request.
Durant developed a strong relationship with Nash during their time with the Golden State Warriors, when Nash served as a player development consultant. He was asked why he thought it didn’t work out for Nash in Brooklyn.
“A lot of things,” Durant said. “We didn’t have a healthy team. We just didn’t play well. And that’s what happens in the league. S— happens. It doesn’t take anything away from basketball IQ- Steve’s ball, to the way he teaches the game. I don’t think that takes anything away. It just didn’t work.
Durant said he has yet to speak to Nash since the move became official. With Jacques Vaughn as interim head coach, the Nets fell to 2-6 after Tuesday’s loss. Durant has said many times over the past year, and reiterated again Tuesday night, that he believes Nash has not been treated fairly given all of the circumstances surrounding his two-and-a-half-year tenure.
“Let’s be real, we’re pros, we’re veterans. We had a rough start,” Durant said when asked if he had been consulted on the decision beforehand. “It was a tough year last year, a tough summer. We knew everyone was being assessed.
“That’s how it is in the league. So I liked working with Steve. I like working with the coaching staff. It’s been a roller coaster the last few years, but the heart of it – basketball -ball – is something we all love to do. So it doesn’t matter who the coach is [is], regardless of the circumstances, you must still come to work. So I liked coming to work with Steve.”
Durant was asked if he thinks there’s too much volatility around the team for it to win over time.
“It’s the NBA,” Durant said. “Everyone has volatility if you want to look at it. It’s just a matter of – people on the outside might see what we do as bigger than what it is, but we all come to work. guys have asked for trades before, coaches get fired, we have disagreements in our locker rooms, it happens in the NBA. But at the end of the day, we all came to work. just didn’t work out in the field.
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