Brooklyn Nets hire Steve Nash as coach

The Nets hire Steve Nash as coach, putting the Hall of Fame point guard in charge of the team that hopes to have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving together next season.

The Brooklyn Nets hired Steve Nash as their coach Thursday, putting the Hall of Fame point guard in charge of the team that hopes to have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving together next season.

Nash, two-time MVP as the engineer of the high-scoring Phoenix Suns teams under Mike D’Antoni, had been a player development consultant with Golden State, where he worked with Durant.

“Coaching is something I knew I wanted to pursue when the time was right, and I am humbled to be able to work with the outstanding group of players and staff we have here in Brooklyn,” Nash said in a statement.”

The Nets finished the season under Jacque Vaughn, who they said would remain on the staff as Nash’s lead assistant. The Nets reached the postseason despite having Irving for only 20 games and Durant for none, but the two stars who came to Brooklyn together last summer are expected to be ready for the 2020-21 season.

Tennis

2019 FINALIST MEDVEDEV REACHES 3RD ROUND AT

OPEN » Daniil Medvedev beat Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory to advance to the third round of the U.S. Open.

The third-seeded Medvedev won under the closed roof of Louis Armstrong Stadium because of rain. He’s in the third round for the third straight year. Medvedev was the 2019 runner-up.

Play on all of the courts other than Ashe and Armstrong was suspended for the night because of rain.