NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash has been named head coach for the first time, after being appointed by Kiwi Sean Marks' Brooklyn Nets.
Nash joins the Nets, after spending five seasons as a player development consultant with Golden State Warriors, where he contributed to two NBA championship teams and made four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, while working alongside Kevin Durant.
Marks and Nash also played alongside each other at Phoenix Suns between 2006-08.
"In Steve, we see a leader, communicator and mentor who will garner the respect of our players," says Marks.
"I have had the privilege to know Steve for many years. One of the great oncourt leaders in our game, I have witnessed first hand his basketball acumen and selfless approach to prioritise team success."
During an 18-season career with the Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, Nash averaged 14.3 points and 8.5 assists, and was one of the best three-pointer shooters in NBA history, making 42.8 percent.
"Coaching is something I knew I wanted to pursue when the time was right," says Nash. "I am as excited about the prospects of the team on the court as I am about moving to Brooklyn with my family and becoming impactful members of this community."
He won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards in 2005 and 2006, while playing for the Suns, becoming just the 10th player in NBA history to win the award in consecutive seasons.
The 46-year-old Canadian joins a Brooklyn team that fell in the first round of this year's playoffs to reigning champions Toronto Raptors, while Durant and Kyrie Irving sat out injured.
Reuters
