Former Los Angeles Lakers Coach Questions Hiring Of Steve Nash In Brooklyn

The hiring of Steve Nash to become the next head coach of the Brooklyn Nets is seen as an interesting development in the NBA. But while it is a welcome sight, the move has also raised a dispute from a number of former coaches, including ex-Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott, who thinks experienced Black tacticians should have been considered for the spot as well.

Scott, a former NBA Coach of the Year, meant no disrespect for Nash with his stance; the appointment, however, has led him to call for players to “advocate for black coaches” in the league, per TMZ Sports.

"My first thought was why didn’t Mark Jackson or some other African-American guys who have coached in this league at least get an opportunity to coach with the Brooklyn Nets?” asked the 58-year-old, adding that Black coaches usually get assigned to teams that are not anywhere near to contention.

"We don't get jobs that are that set and that good -- where you got 2 stars like Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant,” he said. "We don’t get those jobs where there is built-in superstardom guys on that roster right away.

"We get the kind of jobs where you have to make something out of nothing and when you don’t or you’re not able to do it, they’ll say, 'Well, we gave him the opportunity.'"

Scott spoke from his 16-year head coaching experience, which started when he took over a win-staved New Jersey Nets in 2000.

The 59-year-old last manned the sidelines in 2016 when he called the shots for the Lakers, which likewise was the last playing year for the late Kobe Bryant, whom he credited for getting the job in the purple and gold.

Seeing the disparity in coaching opportunities persisting until today, Scott is hoping for an urgent reform as he called players to emulate the Black Mamba.

"Our players don’t do a good enough job for advocating for Black coaches and that's just something that we need to change as well."

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith was first to raise the issue after he blatantly called Nash’s appointment as “White privilege.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, there’s no way around this. This is white privilege. This does not happen for a black man. No experience whatsoever on any level as a coach, and you get the Brooklyn Nets job?”

Nash, a two-time MVP and Hall of Famer, has never coached any team since retiring as a player in 2015, although he has served as a part-time consultant for the Golden State Warriors for a couple of years, which also gave him his first NBA championship ring.

But while his appointment to lead Brooklyn spurred controversy, some still believe his credentials as a player could spell wonders for the Nets, who are hoping to take a leap with Irving and Durant expected to play for the first time together in the team next season.