Former NBA star Steve Nash is undoubtedly the best player from Canada. He may be set to return to the country after meeting with the Toronto Raptors in their search for their next head coach.
Nash’s most recent coaching tenure with the Brooklyn Nets ended disastrously. He had fired just seven games into the season this year when apparent chemistry issues emerged between Nash and star point guard Kyrie Irving.
It later emerged that Irving was found to be running entirely different plays than Nash had called in a game before he was fired. This doesn’t speak to Nash’s ability to lead a team, but he is now receiving interest around the league again.
On Monday, the Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Raptors met with Nash to discuss their head coaching vacancy.
The Toronto Raptors met with Steve Nash to discuss their head coaching job, sources tell me and @joevardon. Nash, a Canadian basketball legend, had a .584 record (94-67) in two-plus seasons coaching the Nets. Toronto has had a wide-ranging coaching search.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 22, 2023
Many around the NBA world took to social media to offer their opinion on this potential hire.
The Raptors met with Steve Nash to discuss their HC vacancy, per @ShamsCharania and @joevardon
Nash was a player and GM of the Canadian national basketball team 👀 pic.twitter.com/QdbHlxtM3m
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2023
Raptors fired Nick Nurse so they could interview…STEVE NASH????
— Arrest Adam Silver (@Less_HumbleTeej) May 22, 2023
THE RAPTORS MET WITH STEVE NASH 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
— Cody Mallory (@RealCodyMallory) May 22, 2023
The Raptors have met with Steve Nash as part of their search to fill their head coaching job, per @ShamsCharania.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/I1QT7LUYwJ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 22, 2023
Steve Nash is currently (+1500) to be the next Raptors head coach 🤔 https://t.co/aip4LqdpRs
— FanDuel Canada (@FanDuelCanada) May 22, 2023
Is Steve Nash a Canadian legend? Yes.
Should he coach the Raptors? No. https://t.co/syZ63rd2gb— J.J. Adams (@TheRealJJAdams) May 22, 2023
This is the second interview for the Raptors that has turned the heads of NBA fans. They also recently interviewed former NBA shooting guard and current ESPN personality JJ Redick earlier this month.
Aside from how things ended in Brooklyn for Nash, he did have a pretty solid record during his tenure with the team. Nash finished with a 94-67 record in over two seasons while leading the Nets to two postseason appearances.
Regardless, whoever ultimately becomes the next head coach in Toronto may have difficulty replacing former head coach Nick Nurse, who helped the team win their first NBA Championship in 2019.
