Mike D’Antoni is back to work. This time it is as an assistant under his former prodigy Steve Nash in Brooklyn. Per Woj, D’Antoni is currently in the process of confirming a deal with the team.
After his stint with the Rockets, D’Antoni’s reputation for a high scoring and explosive offense only increased. His partnership with Nash may yield similar to Houston.
The Nets’ vision for a title is now more realistic with Nash and D’Antoni at the helm. Ime Udoka, the former assistant for the 76ers, is also joining the Nets as an assistant.
With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant looking healthy as of the offseason, the Nets can make a splash on the NBA if Nash and D’Antoni can pull something like the pair’s stint in Phoenix in the mid-2000s.
D’Antoni coached Nash from 2004-2008 with the Suns, with Nash flourishing and winning 2 MVPs. Nash fits perfectly within D’Antoni’s system of fast passing and transition play. However, the team always came short of a title during Nash’s prime.
The pair linked once again with the Lakers from 2012-2014, but Nash’s time in Los Angeles was plagued by an injury that eventually forced his retirement.
D’Antoni found the same disappointing results in Houston, where he failed to win a single title with James Harden. D’Antoni went a full 4 years without a title appearance. This recurring theme within his coaching career may end with two of the most talented scorers in the entire league at his disposal.
In addition to Kyrie and Durant, the Nets already have a solid core that made the playoffs without their star duo last year. D’Antoni can build off this past success and take them to the next step with Nash.
D’Antoni joining the Nets only strengthens another title-contender as he hopes to aid an already promising offense further.
