New hires come with a degree of uncertainty. Especially if you have never done the job before. The NBA is no exception.
So when Brooklyn handed Jordi Fernandez his first-ever NBA head coaching job, there were always questions. It's about how he performs and, perhaps more importantly, whether he can convince the players.
Nearly 24 games in, well past the season's quarter pole, the answer was in the affirmative. Regarded by all betting sites as having one of the worst records in the NBA, the Nets have outperformed all reasonable expectations. And Fernandes has drawn praise from both the league and its surroundings.
Earlier this week, Fernandez Nominated for Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. The award ironically went to Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson, who was waived by the Nets in 2020. Much of their hard-won culture disappeared with Atkinson's arrival, but Fernandes' early return looks set to bring it back.
