Brooklyn Nets sack coach Steve Nash as players admit defensive failures

The first big name has been sacked at the Brooklyn Nets as Ben Simmons and his All Star teammates at the Brooklyn Nets fail to fire.

Ben Simmons was left fuming after the Nets’ clash with Grizzlies. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash has been fired after his star-studded squad including Australian Ben Simmons lost five of its first seven games to start the new NBA season.

In a stunning move, the Nets dumped the Canadian basketball legend less than a fortnight into the season, having backed him during a dramatic off-season in which Kevin Durant asked for him to be sacked as he requested a trade.

Durant eventually decided to remain with the team and has performed strongly to start the season, but the Nets have struggled defensively in a string of disappointing losses.

Simmons has averaged just 6.2 points per game in his first stint on the court with the Nets, after being traded from Philadelphia earlier this year, although Nash had backed him to improve.

Ben Simmons (L) and Steve Nash (C). Picture: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Prior to the team sacking Nash, a series of players-only meetings had been held to sort out their on-court woes, with Simmons saying his teammates were “just not clicking defensively”.

“We got to be accountable on the defensive end, and we’re not,” Simmons said.

Durant agreed, saying in the wake of one loss that Nash was “not playing for us”.

“It’s on the individuals … Coach can only do so much and tell you what to do,” he said.

“Each guy’s got to just dig down deeper and just be better. That’s just what it is.”

Nash had suggested the team would have to “make some decisions” as he warned his players did not have “enough resilience to fight through” challenges in games.

That decision was made by Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks, who said dumping the coach was “an immensely difficult” move.

Steve Nash fired for not being able to get Kyrie Irving to care about anyone other than himself or make Ben Simmons give a toss about improving his game, to be replaced by someone who will obviously do these completely doable things immediately.

— Mark Deeks (@MarkDeeksNBA) November 1, 2022

Nets fire Nash and expected to hire suspended Ime Udoka... Can they overcome all the Kyrie/ Nash/ Udoka/ KD/ Simmons drama?

855-212-4CBS pic.twitter.com/GVf2eBlPjG

— Moxie Squad (@MaggieandPerl) November 1, 2022

“However, after much deliberation and evaluation of how the season has begun, we agreed that a change is necessary at this time,” Marks said in a statement.

“Since becoming head coach, Steve was faced with a number of challenges, and we are sincerely grateful for his leadership, patience and humility throughout his tenure.”

Those challenges have also included several controversies sparked by star point guard Kyrie Irving, who has most recently been under fire for sharing an anti-Semitic film on social media. Fans wearing T-shirts that said “Fight anti-Semitism” sat courtside at Brooklyn’s last home game in a protest directed at Irving.

Nash, in a statement, said coaching the Nets had been an “amazing experience with many challenges that I’m incredibly grateful for”.

“It was a pleasure to work with the players, performance team and front office everyday,” Nash said.

“I wish the Nets all the success in the world and the Nashs will be rooting for our team as they turn this season around.”

The Nets are now reportedly planning to hire Ime Udoka, who coached the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals last season before the team suspended him for this season for having an improper relationship with a female staff member.

‘GIVE HIM A F***ING CHANCE’: IRVING RALLIES AROUND SIMMONS

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving has told the critics to back off Ben Simmons but he has still urged the Australian star to do the one thing he refuses: shoot.

Simmons’ return to the world’s best league after a year-and-a-half on the sidelines is a work in progress after another underwhelming performance in a loss to Milwaukee on Thursday.

He finished with four points, five rebounds, nine assists, two steals and four fouls in 34 minutes on the court.

Simmons also attempted seven shots from the field but was called out by Irving for not shooting early in the third quarter.

Irving’s call of “shoot Ben” was clearly heard in ESPN’s broadcast.

In this case though it really did not look like Simmons would have been better off shooting anyway, with all the Bucks defenders clogging the paint and Durant wide-open.

“SHOOT IT BEN!”

Kyrie Irving is begging Ben Simmons to shoot the ball 😭 pic.twitter.com/gXGlCtB4QJ

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) October 27, 2022

Irving was later asked about Simmons’ struggles in his post-game press conference and immediately leapt to the defence of the Australian.

“You guys keep coming in here asking me like what about Ben? He hasn’t played in two years. Give him a f***ing chance,” Irving said.

“We stay on his s***. You just stay on him. But we’re here to give him positive affirmations.”

Simmons also looks to be clearly struggling with his back.

He received contact driving to the rim during the first quarter and grabbed at his back.

He went back up seconds later for a strong bucket, but ended up not only holding his back again but getting a technical for complaining to the ref.

Simmons checked out of the game late in the first quarter and walked straight back to the stationary bike in the Nets‘ tunnel.

Kyrie Irving has vowed to support Ben Simmons through his struggles as he returns to the NBA following a year-and-a-half on the sidelines. Picture: Justin Ford/Getty Images/AFP

It will clearly take the Australian guard time to rediscover his best.

Nets coach Steve Nash told Simmons pre-game that he wants to see him playing with ‘joy’ in his game.

“For me, it‘s trying to take the risk off the table,” Nash said.

“I‘m not expecting him to be 100 per cent in the short term, but I want him to try to find that and join him playing the game.

BELITTLED SIMMONS FUMES OVER NBA ‘BULLS--T’

Ben Simmons has unloaded on NBA officials, describing fouls called against him as “bulls--t”, despite the Australian Brooklyn Nets star being on track to have more fouls than points this season.

Simmons fouled out for the second time in three games this season in a loss to Memphis on Tuesday.

The Melbourne-born guard has amassed 14 fouls in three games while he has recorded just 17 points.

Simmons had seven points, eight assists and three rebounds against the Grizzlies, but his performance was overshadowed by foul troubles.

Ja Morant just hilariously baited Ben Simmons into fouling outhttps://t.co/pU9Em4dJRCpic.twitter.com/tH7fAzQmtp

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 25, 2022

The Aussie was also baited into his sixth foul by Memphis star guard Ja Morant with four minutes remaining in the match.

Morant deliberately rolled the ball up the floor and over halfway before stopping, looking away and enticing Simmons to foul.

It was a belittling moment for the Aussie guard, although he received support from fans online who thought he didn’t foul the Grizzlies guard.

A frustrated Simmons certainly felt that way when he was asked about the controversial call post-game.

Ben Simmons was left fuming after the Nets’ clash with Grizzlies. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

“It’s frustrating, it’s not a foul,” Simmons fumed.

“That was bulls--t. It’s frustrating because it’s late game. You’re in the fourth quarter, it’s a physical close game. It’s the NBA. it’s not college, not high school.”

Simmons had a similar message in regard to his defensive woes: “A lot of it was bulls--t calls, if you ask me.”

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Nets coach Steve Nash wants the Australian star to drive to the basket more.

“Yes,” Nash said.

“That‘s a little bit of the rust … You can see him trying at times. And that’s great: We want to keep pushing him to try to break through and force the issue a little at times, even if he makes mistakes.”

Ben Simmons has 17 points and 14 fouls this season...

He's fouled out in 2/3 games he's played in pic.twitter.com/048AWiNHs4

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 25, 2022

Simmons admitted he’s rusty, but also acknowledges he has to be more aggressive.

It’s why rival teams are laying off him and it won’t change until he becomes more aggressive.

Simmons was also seen stretching out his back as he headed to the free-throw line during the first half, but there seems to be no serious injury.

Fellow Australian Patty Mills had six points, two assists and one rebound in a 19-minute stint for Brooklyn.

The Nets travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks on Thursday from 10.30am (AEDT).