Nets Coach Jordi Fernandez Misses Game Due to Illness

The Nets were without head coach Jordi Fernandez for one game against the Bucks on Sunday due to illness, but he made a return on Tuesday. The day of the game was certainly a unique experience for him.

Fernandez took precautions by wearing a mask while spending time with his two children. When he wasn’t near them, he stayed in a designated part of the house to minimize the risk of spreading illness.

However, as game time approached, he found himself in front of the TV, mask on, cheering alongside his wife Kelsey and their kids. “All four of us were rooting for the players, the coaches, everyone. So we were just sending a lot of love like this,” he shared after practice.

Assistant coach Steve Hetzel stepped in and guided the Nets to a remarkable 127-82 win over the Bucks, who were missing their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo. This victory marked the biggest win in the team’s history, which filled Fernandez with pride.

He was appreciative of the team’s performance, noting, “Everyone’s reaction, everyone’s positive energy and willingness to do the right thing… The nine players that finished in double digits have shown a lot of growth and good development, and there are a lot of things we want to do consistently.”

When asked if he was surprised by how well the Nets performed, particularly on defense, he admitted he hadn’t expected it.

“No, but if I had to miss another game, and they play that well, I’ll do whatever it takes for the group,” he joked.

In other news, Haywood Highsmith was spotted practicing foul shots at the Nets’ facility on Tuesday. Fernandez mentioned that he will receive an update on his health soon, likely by the end of the week.

On Monday, the Nets assigned Ben Saraf and Nolan Traore to Long Island. Traore, the last of the five rookies to leave the rotation, had played only two games with Brooklyn, averaging 9 minutes per game without scoring any points.