Report: Kings’ assistant coach Jordi Fernandez named finalist for Nets’ HC role

Apr 13, 2024, 11:59 AM | Updated: 6:57 pm

Head coach Jordi Fernandez of Canada walks off the court after the FIBA Basketball World Cup quarterfinal victory over Slovenia at Mall of Asia Arena on September 06, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. Canada won 100-89. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

(Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

With the 2023-24 NBA regular season winding down, the coaching searches are heating up, with Sacramento’s own Jordi Fernandez linked to another head coaching position.

A report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania named the Sacramento Kings’ assistant coach as one of the finalists for the Brooklyn Nets’ head coach role. Charania also named former Milwaukee Bucks’ coach Mike Budenholzer, and Phoenix Suns’ assistant Kevin Young, as finalists for the gig, per sources. Additionally, Nets’ owner Joe Tsai will hold in-person meetings with all three candidates. A decision on the team’s next head coach will be announced shortly thereafter.

The Athletic was first with the news Saturday, with local media in Sacramento and Brooklyn confirming thereafter.

Nets have three finalists for their head coaching vacancy, per @ShamsCharania :

• Former Bucks HC Mike Budenholzer,

• Kings associate HC Jordi Fernandez

• Suns associate HC Kevin Young

Hearing a lot of good things about Fernandez.

— C.J. Holmes (@CjHolmes22) April 13, 2024

Jordi Fernandez, 41, has been a hot commodity in league circles for quite some time. The Spaniard was attached to head coaching openings with the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns last summer. Now a year later, Fernandez is popping up in more discussions. The Charlotte Hornets are another suitor interested in this service, set to interview with them after the regular season.

“Fernandez and [Kevin] Young are considered to be two of the brightest assistant coaches in the NBA and have both been serious candidates as a part of previous head coaching searches,” Charania stated in his report.

Jordi Fernandez has also served as the head coach of Canada’s men’s basketball team, helping them make the 2024 Summer Olympics this year. Equipped with several All-NBA and highly-regarded talents, Fernandez’s squad is expected to make some noise this summer.

Stateside, he’s done pretty good as well, working under former Kings’ coach Michael Malone for six years in Denver. He joined current Kings’ coach Mike Brown’s staff prior to the 2022-23 season, ushering in a new wave of Kings’ basketball. The Sacramento Kings have been 93-70 in that timespan, snapping a 17-year playoff drought last season.