Former Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni will serve an assistant on Steve Nash's Nets staff. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Mike D'Antoni joins Brooklyn Nets as assistant coach

By Blake Harper | Last updated 10/30/20

Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash are reuniting, but this time, Nash will be the man in charge, as D'Antoni and 76ers assistant coach Ime Udoka are reportedly finalizing deals that will make them Brooklyn Nets assistant coaches for the upcoming season.

Nash played for D'Antoni in Phoenix, where the two revolutionized basketball with the "Seven Seconds or Less" offense, which relied on quick passing and decision-making in order to keep a fast-paced, high-tempo style of attack.

Mike D’Antoni and Ime Udoka are finalizing deals to become assistant coaches under Steve Nash with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN. Together, D’Antoni and Nash were the architects of the Seven Seconds or Less Offense with the Phoenix Suns in the mid-2000’s.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 30, 2020

While the two were never able to win a championship during their time with the Suns (or any other time in their careers, other than Nash's Golden State "title" as a player development consultant), it is widely considered the peak of both of their careers, and now they will try to bring that same energy to Brooklyn.

D'Antoni had spent the last several years in Houston, and while he made the Rockets one of the most potent offenses in the NBA, they were never able to turn that firepower into a championship, resulting in him and the franchise mutually parting ways after another disappointing playoff exit. He interviewed with a few teams to remain a head coach but ultimately reunited with his old point guard.

As for Udoka, he spent seven seasons with the San Antonio Spurs before joining Philadelphia last year and was considered for several head-coaching openings, including the Chicago Bulls and New York Nets. Now he will be joining perhaps the most star-studded coaching staff in NBA history, as Nash's former teammate Amare Stoudemire also joined the Nets as an assistant.

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