“We will see results right away because like I said before, this industry is about getting results and getting better,” Fernandez said at the team’s HSS Training Center in Industry City at his introductory press conference.

The 41-year-old native of Baradona, Spain headed the rest of coach Mike Brown’s staff in Sacramento beginning in 2021-22.

The Kings went from 30 wins to 48 in his first season, earning the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and reaching the postseason for the first time since 2006 before bowing out to Golden State in the opening round last April.

Sacramento won 46 games this year, but only earned a spot in the West’s play-in tournament, beating the Warriors in the 9-10 game before losing to New Orleans last week with the No. 8 spot and a first-round series on the line.

That defeat allowed Marks to officially bring Fernandez to our borough after a month-long search that included a reported dozen candidates, including interim coach Kevin Ollie, who went 11-17 down the stretch with a Brooklyn team that waved goodbye to Jacque Vaughn at the All-Star break.

Marks, who has hired and fired the likes of Avery Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo, Jason Kidd, Lionel Hollins, Kenny Atkinson, Steve Nash and Vaughn since the franchise arrived here in 2012, was impressed by Fernandez’s previous coaching experience.

Beyond his six years as an assistant with reigning NBA champion Denver and several campaigns in the player-development department in Cleveland, Fernandez has also worked on the amateur and international level.

He guided Team Canada to its first bronze medal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023 as head coach. He also worked with Cleveland’s G-League affiliate in Canton, guiding the Cavs’ young players to a pair of Eastern Conference finals appearances.

“I think something that separates Jordi from a lot of the candidates, we found that he could look at a developmental roster, he could do various different pathways,” Marks intimated of his ultimate decision.

“I mean, he’s coached stars before, he’s been the head, director of development before. So as I said, he’s worn many hats and I think with our roster that he’s going to be able to get the respect of those guys.”

Of chief interest to Marks and Fernandez is the return of Brooklyn’s most coveted unrestricted free agent this summer. Center Nic Claxton averaged 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and finished tied for sixth in the NBA with 2.1 blocked shots per game.

“I believe he’ll be Defensive Player of the Year,” Fernandez said of Claxton, who has steadily improved since being selected by Brooklyn in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft.

“For us, he’s a priority in this summer, and the way we can play through him — obviously he’s great in pick-and-roll, he’s quick to the rim, he puts pressure on the rim — but also his ability to play the dribble-handoff game which, as you guys know, lately in the NBA is a style that is very efficient.”

Fernandez, who will be involved in the Nets’ 2024 NBA Draft room in late June, hasn’t officially announced his coaching staff yet, but will have to do so before coaching Canada again at this summer’s Olympics in Paris.

The first Spaniard ever to coach an NBA team knows Brooklynites are eager to see their team perform at a high level again.

He has proven veterans like Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schroder to build around.

Also, the Nets boast a bevy of youngsters who saw significant playing time under Ollie down the stretch, including rookies Jalen Wilson and Noah Clowney and second-year power forward Trendon Watford.

“The youth is always great, right, because it allows you to have a team for a long run,” Fernandez noted.

“It’s going to take time,” he added. “It’s going to take direction and structure. But I believe with the team we have and the partnership that we have right now, no doubt in my mind that we’ll start the right way.”

Though terms of his deal were not disclosed, as per team policy, Fernandez would love to be the longest-tenured coach in Nets history since the relocation.

Atkinson logged 308 games at the helm here from 2016-2020.

Marks hasn’t had to fret about his job security through six head-coaching changes, not including several interim titles he’s handed out over the last dozen years.

“You never want to have to let people go from positions, whether that’s coaching or staff members and so forth,” Marks said.

“I think what we’re in is, we’re in professional sports and there’s turnover. I mean, we’re all very, very lucky and very fortunate to have the jobs that we have and hold on to them for as long as we can.”

Fernandez is doubtlessly hoping to hold on to more than his job here in Brooklyn.

He’s aiming to grasp and hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush before the first championship parade down that long ride toward the Brooklyn Bridge since the Dodgers beat the hated Yankees in the 1955 World Series.

“We know that there’s proper steps to take and we’ll see improvement right away,” he reiterated. “But the most important thing to me is to believe in team success over personal success.”

***

Just one day after announcing her retirement from a WNBA career that spanned 14 seasons, including five with the New York Liberty, Brooklyn native Epiphanny Prince revealed Wednesday that she’s not leaving.

The former Murry Bergtraum High School phenom and Rutgers University alum was hired by the Liberty as Director of Player and Community Engagement.

Prince played her final season here in Brooklyn with the Liberty last year, nearly grabbing her second championship ring before New York fell in four tough games to reigning back-to-back titleholder Las Vegas.

In what the Liberty described as “the first-of-its-kind role”, Prince will serve on the basketball operations and business staffs to bring her WNBA experience to the entire organization.

“I’m very excited about my new role with the Liberty,” she said a day after revealing her retirement from playing on Instagram.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to work with the coaching staff, players, and everyone in this great organization.” she added. “Being in my hometown of Brooklyn makes it even more amazing, and I can’t wait to play my part in helping the community.”

The Liberty will kick off their much-anticipated 2024 season in Washington D.C., on May 14. Their home opener will be May 18 at Barclays Center vs. heralded rookie Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.

Season ticket memberships and single game tickets for home games at Barclays Center are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

To learn more and view additional ticketing options such as group tickets and ticket plans, visit liberty.wnba.com/tickets

---

Related Articles

Liberty part of WNBA business boom

May 2 | John Torenli, Sports Editor

Liberty back to take second shot at title

May 1 | John Torenli, Sports Editor

Fernandez filling assistant vacancies

April 30 | John Torenli, Sports Editor

Brooklyn’s Prince bids farewell to WNBA

April 24 | John Torenli, Sports Editor