Steve Nash agrees to coach Brooklyn Nets on 4-year deal

Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash will once again make plays on the basketball floor, this time as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Nets later made the official announcement as the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nash takes charge of a team with All-Star playmakers Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“Coaching is something I knew I wanted to pursue when the time was right and I’m humbled to be able to work with the outstanding group of players and staff we have here in Brooklyn,” Nash said.

“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.”

The 46-year-old Canadian will try and revive a Nets team that has won only one playoff series since 2007. The Nets made first-round playoff exits the past two seasons.

This will be the 46-year-old legend’s first foray into coaching, a huge jump from his part-time player development consulting duties with the Golden State Warriors since 2015.

Meanwhile, interim coach Jacque Vaughn will stay as Nash’s lead assistant.

Per Wojnarowski, the Nets have aggressively recruited Nash and convinced him to take the leap to head coaching under a four-year contract.

“In Steve we see a leader, communicator and mentor who will garner the respect of our players,” said general manager Sean Marks in a statement.

“I have had the privilege to know Steve for many years. One of the great on-court leaders in our game, I have witnessed firsthand his basketball acumen and selfless approach to prioritize team success.”

Prior to this signing, the team was rumored to make a long-shot offer to current San Antonio Spurs chief tactician Gregg Popovich.

Although he’s an incoming rookie on the clipboards, Nash is one of the greatest players to ever call plays on the hardwood, as evidenced by his two league MVP awards, 8 All-Star selections, and 5 seasons leading the league in assists.

This is the second time the Nets hired a Hall of Fame point guard to coach the team, as they placed former Nets superstar Jason Kidd on the top coaching seat in the 2013-2014 season. – with a report from Agence France-Presse