The Brooklyn Nets are planning to hire Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernández as their head coach, league sources confirmed Monday. ESPN first reported the news.
Fernández, 41, is considered one of the brightest assistant coaches in the NBA and has been a serious candidate in previous head coaching searches. He spent six seasons coaching the Denver Nuggets as an assistant (2016-22) and was a player development coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2009 to 2013. He also coached the Canadian national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, winning bronze with the squad.
Nets general manager Sean Marks and Joe Tsai embarked on a coaching search after parting ways with Jacque Vaughn on Feb. 19 and interviewed an extensive list of candidates. In addition to Fernández, Milwaukee Bucks championship coach Mike Budenholzer and Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young were among the finalists for the job, The Athletic previously reported.
Sources briefed on the matter previously said interim coach Kevin Ollie was considered as part of the Nets’ process, along with several other coaches, including Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn and New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego, but the organization honed in on new candidates as finalists for the full-time job.
Ollie was named the interim Nets coach on Feb. 20 and has compiled a 32-50 record this season. He was also interviewed as part of the process and met with Tsai, according to league sources.
The Nets are armed with a talented two-way player in Mikal Bridges, future draft picks and salary cap space and flexibility in Brooklyn.
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