The Nets haven’t officially announced Jordi Fernandez as their new head coach, but his staff is already starting to come together.
Brooklyn is adding veteran coach Steve Hetzel as an assistant under Fernandez, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hetzel boasts a decade of experience as an NBA assistant, including the past three years on Chauncey Billups’ staff in Portland. He previously served as an assistant under Steve Clifford with Charlotte from 2014-18 and Orlando from 2018-21.
Hetzel got his start with Gregg Popovich’s Spurs as an assistant video coordinator during the 2005-06 season; worked as Cleveland’s video coordinator from 2006-09; and served as a development coach with the Pistons from 2009-13.
News of Hetzel’s hiring comes less than a week after the Nets reportedly decided on Fernandez, the Kings’ associate head coach since 2022, to become their new head coach. The Nets are expected to announce his hiring soon, with the Kings season now over with Friday’s loss in the NBA’s play-in tournament.
Fernandez is set to become the fourth full-time head coach hired by general manager Sean Marks, following Kenny Atkinson, Steve Nash and Jacque Vaughn.
The Nets fired Vaughn in February after a 21-33 start to the season, just shy of a year after signing him to a multi-year extension. Vaughn, who spent parts of seven seasons as a Nets assistant, had taken over for Nash after his firing seven games into the 2022-23 season.
Brooklyn went 11-17 last season under interim head coach Kevin Ollie.
Fernandez, 41, and his staff will be tasked with turning around a Nets team that finished 32-50 last season and as the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Nets failed to qualify for the play-in tournament in what was their first full season since trading away superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The Nets boast building blocks in 22-year-old Cam Thomas, who led the team at 22.5 points per game last season; Mikal Bridges, who averaged 19.6 points; and Cam Johnson, who averaged 13.4 points and is a 39.2% 3-point shooter for his career. Rookies Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson showed flashes during increased playing time down the stretch.
Brooklyn must make decisions on multiple free agents, including center Nic Claxton, who is in line for a significant payday after his second straight season averaging more than 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game.
