On Monday, Jordi Fernandez was appointed as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, a team aiming to rebound after missing the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Fernandez stated, “I am truly grateful to lead the Nets as head coach. … I am eager to get to work with this talented group of players and collectively drive our team forward.”
Following a disappointing 32-50 season, which led to the dismissal of Jacque Vaughn at the All-Star break, interim coach Kevin Ollie guided the team for the remainder of the campaign.
Jordi Fernandez (Via NBA/Twitter)
General manager Sean Marks emphasized Fernandez’s suitability for the role, stating, “As we progressed through an extensive search over the past six weeks, it became increasingly clear that Jordi is the best coach to lead our team forward.”
Fernandez, the franchise’s 24th coach, arrives from the Sacramento Kings, where he served as associate head coach for two seasons, contributing to their playoff appearance last year, the first since 2006.
Hailing from Badalona, Spain, Fernandez also leads Canada’s men’s national team, guiding them to a bronze medal in last year’s Basketball World Cup.
Brooklyn Nets Team (Via NBA/Twitter)
Despite their recent playoff runs from 2019 to 2023, the Nets have seen frequent coaching changes. Fernandez’s predecessors include Kenny Atkinson, Steve Nash, and Vaughn, all of whom had brief tenures, with interim spells by Vaughn and Ollie.
Before his time in Sacramento, Fernandez spent six seasons as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets and led the Canton Charge to consecutive NBA G League Eastern Conference finals appearances. Additionally, he has coached for the Spanish and Nigerian national teams.
Fernandez inherits a Nets team that parted ways with Vaughn just a year after extending his contract. Under Ollie’s interim leadership, they finished the season at 11-17, prioritizing the development of their young talent after falling out of playoff contention.
