Who’s Next for Nets?
Prokhorov, King begin coaching search after disappointing first-round playoff exit
WANTED: A highly motivated and motivational thick-skinned, media-savvy head basketball coach for an NBA franchise located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. Must have previous experience, be it as a head coach on the collegiate or professional level, or as a highly thought-of assistant. Must work well with others, especially high-paid players who sometimes “get down on themselves” in the heat of battle and a billionaire owner with extremely high and sometimes-unrealistic expectations. Must understand that a poor month or two could result in immediate firing. Should be able to work well in front of large crowds, sometimes as many as 17,732 full-throated fans on a nightly basis. Should expect almost constant criticism and sniping from print and electronic media types, not to mention thousands upon thousands of know-it-all bloggers and tweeters. Those with an inability to close out playoff games when leading by as many as 14 points with three minutes or less to play need not apply. Starting salary: Approximately $3 to $6 million per year (negotiable). Resume should be sent to: Barclays Center, ATTN: Billy King or Mikhail Prokhorov, 620 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217.
While Nets general manager Billy King and billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov won’t be posting the above ad during their ongoing search for the next head coach of Brooklyn’s first major pro sports franchise since 1957, they will expect him to live up to some, if not all, of the above criteria.
After spending last summer spending more than $330 million to build what they both thought was a team capable of competing for an Eastern Conference title, King and Prokhorov fired not one, but two head coaches by the time the Nets’ historic first season in Brooklyn was complete.