Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Mike D’Antoni is leaving head coach Steve Nash’s staff as he prepares to pursue other leading gigs in the NBA.
Brooklyn Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni is stepping away from a full-time coaching role on Steve Nash’s staff, sources tell ESPN. D’Antoni is expected to pursue head coaching jobs again in the future. He was a finalist for the Portland opening this year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 28, 2021
The 70-year-old reportedly had “serious interest” in the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coaching vacancy this offseason. D’Antoni was a finalist for the position before the Trail Blazers wound up choosing Chauncey Billups.
D’Antoni has served in coaching capacities in the NBA for over 20 years.
As a matter of fact, he was Nash’s head coach with the Phoenix Suns for several years. They were unable to make the NBA Finals during their powerful partnership, though.
Last season, Nash partook in his first head coaching role with the Nets. The star-studded squad fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games in the second round of the postseason.
Surely, there will be candidacies for D’Antonio in the future. He has head coaching experience with several teams and has a regular season coaching record of 672-527.
