On paper, the Nets still look like a serious title contender. Kyrie Irving can finally play every game, Kevin Durant is still there, Ben Simmons is fit to return to the pitch and there’s enough talent in the franchise roster to challenge for the next Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Except that you can’t erase such a chaotic summer with a snap of your fingers. We wondered how Steve Nash was going to be able to work with a Kevin Durant who claimed his headbut the coach wants to turn the page.
” How are you “ he explained at the end of the first training on his relationship with his “franchise player”. ” Things are going well. Even when we spoke, it was as if nothing had changed. I have a long history with Kevin. I love it. Families have problems. We had a complicated moment and it’s behind us. It happens. »
For Steve Nash, it’s even very common in the NBA, especially after such frustrating seasons…
“We were all in the rough, we were fuming, going through what we went through last year, not being able to overcome all this adversity. Sometimes you lose perspective because you expect to win, but the reality is that we got to talk and discuss what we can improve from last year. And also keep some perspective. We’ve been through a ton of stuff.”
“A lot of things happened behind the scenes. Many things reported are not accurate. Many things that are reported are not 100% accurate. So there are pieces of fragmented truth”
The former double MVP with the Suns assures anyway that he was able to make things clear during a meeting with Kevin Durant, Sean Marks and the owners of the Nets, Joe and Clara Wu Tsai, in August. What was said in this meeting? Steve Nash does not want to reveal it, but he assures that the situation was more nuanced than we think.
“I never thought it was certain”he replied, when asked about the fact that KD had asked for his dismissal and that of Sean Marks. “It’s not black and white, so there were a lot of factors. A lot of things happened behind the scenes. Many things reported are not accurate. Many things that are reported are not 100% accurate. So there are pieces of fragmented truth. There are things that are downright wrong. It happens… So I don’t get sucked into it. »
Steve Nash recognizes however that he does not have the end of the story, since he has not discussed the subject with Kevin Durant or Sean Marks. He will do it “when the time is right”. For the moment, the trainer especially appreciates a peaceful atmosphere, with potentially fewer obstacles on the horizon…
“I think we are in a very good position to start the season. And even though everyone wants to talk about the issues all the time, we made it through it all. I played in the league for 17, 18 years. I’m here now, for my third year [en tant qu’entraîneur], I have seen everything, done everything. »