ATLANTA — For Jordi Fernandez, Wednesday won't be the culmination of his path to his head coaching debut. It's just another step to greater heights.
The Nets' regular season opener in Atlanta will be Fernandez's first game as an NBA head coach. And while the Spaniard said it would be a night he'll never forget, he didn't intend it to be the pinnacle of his career.
That peak has not yet come. I'm sure the Nets hope so too.
“It’s an honor considering this journey and where I come from, but other than that. [on to the] It's the next step,'' said Fernandes, 41. “And I'm not going to stop my career and just be happy with it. There's no reason why being happy with myself is enough.
“It's an honor to celebrate it, to be proud of it, to represent my country, my culture, but at the same time, I had to move on at some point. My goal is to just be here. It's not about getting to that point, it's about staying there and being a head coach for many years, being the head coach of a team that wins for many years, being the head coach of a team that competes for championships. We have to have new goals.”
The Nets are far from championship contention after embarking on a rebuild this offseason and trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks.
This leaves two Cams, Thomas and Johnson, as first and second scoring options. And both have praised the positive impact Fernandes has already had.
“It's a really good culture,” Thomas said. “I really embrace the culture that we're trying to build, which is to come to work every day, play hard, work hard, and live with the results. Win or lose, I'm here every day the same way. Just come and keep the energy up and everything will be fine. So far it's been great.”
Of course, this is the easy part. Hope can be obtained cheaply at training camps.
Sportsbooks predict the Nets will have the worst record in the league this season and will face Trae Young and the Hawks in Atlanta on Wednesday.
But while the front office may be focused on the lottery standings, Fernandez has no interest in adding L's to his hard-earned win-loss ledger.
“Losing doesn't help anyone,” Fernandes told Spanish agency EFE. “All we have to do is look for our wins and what winning means to us. But competing and improving is definitely a priority for us. It is true that this is a matter.”
The Nets will be doing everything they can to win in Atlanta after a particularly grueling training camp. And you could even feel the players getting excited at the prospect of winning in Fernandes' head coaching debut.
“Yeah, yeah, his energy is definitely up,” Johnson said. “And I think that applies to the entire coaching staff as well.”
Fernandes has missed all pre-season games and Wednesday will be the first time the Reds will take a look at the optimal starting five alongside Nick Claxton.
However, even if the principal changes, the principles remain the same. Fernandez will force the Nets to swing the ball from side to side, make 3-point shots and make precise cuts. And if it is not done correctly, he will become unfriendly.
“European coaches are always, always crazy,” admitted German point guard Dennis Schröder. “I like that…but I'm also crazy, so it suits me.”
European coaches are known to be no-nonsense, and Fernandes, a Badalona native, is only the third player to become a head coach in the NBA.
“He was honest, which is a really good observation. But that's what we want as players. Be honest and tell us how it makes you feel,” Thomas said. “Whether we like it or not, we can respect that. But he's really straightforward and I respect that about him.”
