Nets’ Tsai welcomes ‘privilege’ discussion

Nets owner Joe Tsai said he was glad Steve Nash’s hiring as Brooklyn’s coach created a discussion about “white privilege,’’ but believes the argument doesn’t hold up.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on the air that “white privilege’’ was at work in the Nets’ choice of Nash, the Hall of Fame point guard, because his lone coaching experience was as a part-time skills instructor for the Warriors.

The charge created a national firestorm after the announcement on Sept. 3 — and Tsai actually loved it.

“The example [Smith] uses in this particular case is misapplied, but having that conversation is important,’’ Tsai said on a Yale University podcast posted Friday. “So I think this is a very good example of, rather than just shouting at each other, we understand white privilege is an issue and needs to be talked about. But in this case, it doesn’t apply because Steve Nash is the best person for the job. But we’re not afraid to talk about it.”

Tsai said he was proud of Nash for adeptly responding during the press conference earlier this month to the assertion he wasn’t qualified for this job, despite being one of the smartest floor generals in NBA history.

“When Steve Nash was put on the spot during the press conference, the direct question was: ‘Did you get your job because of white privilege?’ ’’ Tsai said. “What Steve said was very sensible and sensitive. ‘Yes, I’ve been the beneficiary of that, but I don’t think that’s an issue that applies in this particular case. But we need to have this conversation.’ ”