Questions arose when Nets’ general manager Sean Marks hired head coach Jordi Fernandez on April 22nd, 2024.
The first was if this move finally signaled to fans that a rebuild was coming. The second was what about Fernandez appealed to the Nets front office? 10% into the season, the first-time head coach has already made his mark and created an identity. There’s evidence of it everywhere you look.
The team is focused primarily on developing guys like Cam Thomas, Jalen Wilson, Noah Clowney, and Nic Claxton. The other focus was to increase the value of the vets so that they would get good value in trades down the road. However, the feeling has changed and for some, instead of thinking about tanking, people within the team are thinking about playing beyond the regular season. The Nets sit at exactly .500 with an even 4-4 record. As of Nov. 6, the Nets are in third place in the Eastern Conference and are led by a combination of the already-mentioned vets and young players.
The Spanish coach came into this season wanting his team to play a tough, hard-nosed style. He wants his guys to be competitive and fight every night. So far, he’s doing that and more. From what we’ve seen through a little less than 10 games, the players in the locker room have completely bought in. They believe in what Fernandez is preaching and are getting good results.
When you first look at the offensive side of the ball, the word that comes to mind is quantity. The Nets rank as the eighth-best offense in the association. This is the effect of Jordi Fernandez’s coaching. He wants his guys to have the confidence to shoot the ball often.
The guy who’s had the most success so far in his system is Cam Thomas. Thomas is averaging 25 points per game on 42% from the field. He also is shooting 31% from three and has an astounding 92% free-throw percentage. It should also be mentioned that the young shooting guard leads the entire league in fourth-quarter points (81). Thomas is quickly getting consideration for an All-Star nod this year and it’s in large part to Fernandez.
On defense, despite lacking in height at times, Fernandez has pushed his guys to be active with their hands to tip passes as well as being physical. While there’s room for improvement, they are top 15 in steals and top 20 in overall defensive rating. They do a good job of forcing teams into taking ill-advised shots while hustling for every loose ball. It’s a style of defense that will make any team’s fanbase proud. They are truly playing, “the Brooklyn Way”.
As mentioned before, it’s still very early in the season. Also, the Nets begin a tough stretch of games starting with the defending champions in Boston. There’s still plenty of time for the Nets to come back down to earth. They will still likely trade guys like Dennis Schröder, Cam Johnson, and Dorian Finney-Smith for assets later on.
However, make no mistake, Jordi Fernandez is already leaving his mark on this franchise and slowly bringing the Nets back into a respectable organization on and off the court.
The future is bright in Brooklyn.
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