Can Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash unlock Kyrie Irving?

Can Steve Nash build a group trust with the stars?

The Kevin Durant and Steve Nash relationship has been well documented and is one of the many reasons he was hired as the coach without any NBA coaching experience. Nash learned from the best in Steve Kerr with the Warriors and built on his relationship with Durant.

As mentioned prior, Irving and Durant have been teammates so the missing link is between Irving and Nash. The best teams in NBA history have always had the stars and the coaches bonding (to a degree), Phil Jackson had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant believe in him and talk with him about the team. Gregg Popovich had Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. And Steve Kerr has had Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Anstey spoke highly of Nash when asked how will he create a positive environment and a winning culture for the Nets.

"“Steve will create an environment at the Brooklyn Nets that his team wants to turn up and be a part of, knowing that he has their best interests at heart, and knows how help guide them to where they want to get to.”"

I also asked what might surprise people who don’t know Nash about what he can do as a leader

"“Smiles, it’s going to look like it’s fun, I know that sounds silly but you’ll see him smiling on the sideline, arms around players and you going to see a playing group that going to have fun.”"

From what we’ve seen from Steve Nash’s career and his recent interviews he’s fully prepared to be a coach and leader, but what should worry him and the front office is how the pair of Irving and Durant view what a coach is. Nash is a rookie head coach and it will require the players to accommodate him while he and the rest of the staff with Jacque Vaughn integrate him into the Nets organization.

Nash is going to be able to bring the best out of his star players and his role players, it’s going to be up to Durant and (mostly) Irving to welcome him and support him in his early stages of coaching. So when playoff time comes Nash is able to coach with the authority he needs and is able to be at his fullest potential as a coach and get the best out of Irving as a point guard and as a leader.