Since going 21-33 under former head coach Jacque Vaughn, the Brooklyn Nets have gone 9-14 under Kevin Ollie.
The latter has provided structure and decreased the variance in their game-by-game shot distribution. Establishing a pecking order that was sorely lacking, Cam Thomas has emerged as the primary playmaker, Dennis Schroder as the secondary playmaker, and Mikal Bridges has found comfort in a tertiary scoring role. In fact, Bridges has returned to the 3-and-D role that he had with the Phoenix Suns.
However, since the All-Star Break, the Nets are ranked: 27th in defensive field goal percentage (68.2); 24th in effective field goal percentage (52.6); and 23rd in points per touch (.262).
As a result, Ollie may not get his interim tag removed.
Nets Looking for Knicks’ Help Amid Head Coach Search?
“There’s a growing sense around the league that Brooklyn will also consider some of the same younger, first-time head coaches as the (Washington) Wizards and (Charlotte) Hornets, in addition to experienced names,” per Yahoo Sports insider Jake Fischer.
The Hornets are interested in several head coach candidates. This week, they received permission to interview Denver Nuggets lead assistant David Adelman, Boston Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee, Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez, and Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young. They’ve also been linked to Miami Heat lead assistant Chris Quinn and Utah Jazz lead assistant Lamar Skeeter.
The 51-year-old Ollie doesn’t fit the Nets’ desire for a young or experienced head coach. However, New York Knicks assistant coach Johnnie Bryant does. Bryant doesn’t have head coaching experience but he’s only 38 years old.
“Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant has been another name presented as a potential first-time head coaching candidate in Brooklyn,” per Fischer.
Bryant has been coaching since 2014, getting his start under Quin Snyder with the Utah Jazz. Since 2020, he’s been on Tom Thibodeau’s staff. As a result, he’s learned from two of the best defensive coaches in the NBA. The Oakland native also has a close relationship with Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell. This last fact doesn’t speak to his coaching credentials. Nonetheless, the respect he’s garnered from premier players is significant.
A former Utah Utes standout, he’s been a head coach candidate for the Jazz and his alma mater.
A Player’s Coach
When the Knicks hired Bryant in 2020, Alec Burks may have provided the best quote about what he brings to a coaching staff.
“I thought I was working hard,” Burks said in an interview with the Daily News’ Stefan Bondy. “But he showed me there’s a different level to be good in this league.
And I feel like he brought me to that level.”
“He knows his basketball. He studied the game. He studied your film, know you individually, know what you got going and just preaches what he knows and gets you better through that.”
“He gets to know your game, gets to know you as a person,” Burks continues. “I think that makes it easier on the court when he gets to know you off the court. He’s big on that.”
With that said Bryant could be the ideal hire for Brooklyn.
Since 2020, the Nets have had several well-publicized instances of disconnect between a player and their head coach. Furthermore, the team’s chemistry and competitiveness have often been lackluster. Bryant genuinely caring about his players off the court should make them want to play for him. That could ultimately lead to them fighting hard for each other as well.
Lastly, the Nets aren’t exactly a young team. However, multiple players are in the cocoon, trying to grow wings. Others still are ready to hop out of the nest and spread their wings. As much as any team in the NBA, Brooklyn needs to invest in player development.
