The Sacramento Kings announced Wednesday that Mike Brown has hired Jordi Fernandez as his Associate Head Coach. This is the first announced hire of Mike Brown’s coaching staff.
Coach Brown makes his first coaching hire, bringing on Jordi Fernandez from the Denver Nuggets as his Associate Head Coach. 👑 pic.twitter.com/g69XkD29g0
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) May 18, 2022
Fernandez comes to Sacramento from the Denver Nugget, where he served as second assistant for Michael Malone (with David Adelman as lead assistant). Brown has worked with Fernandez multiple times in the past, dating back to Brown’s time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Most recently, Fernandez was on Brown’s coaching staff with the Nigerian National Team.
The biggest thing I like about this hire is that it clearly is an assistant that Mike Brown knows and trusts. Brown was actually the one to bring Jordi to the NBA in the first place, after Jordi coached Brown’s son with IMPACT Basketball’s youth development program, according to a 2018 profile by The Denver Post. That same profile also discussed Jordi’s role with the Nuggets roster:
Fernandez’s job this summer was to teach the Nuggets’ style of play — spacing the floor and playing through their big men on offense, along with protecting the paint and defending the 3-point line on defense. But he relished his return to concocting his own practice structure and quickly blending players into a team, a flashback to his G League days.
Aside from the obvious shared history between Brown and Fernandez, it’s great having a lead assistant who is intimately familiar with running an offense through a skilled passing big man.
There are still plenty of questions around the remainder of Brown’s coaching staff that we should get clarification on in the coming weeks.
Jordi, eh?
I’d be expecting Luke Loucks and Chris Demarco joining the coaching staff as well.
So Mike Brown already has 3 assistants!
This looks like a solid hire and welcome back to NorCal Jordi Fernandez!
I am sure he will get some idea of the Kings from working with Michael Malone as well as a different perspective from his other two assistant coaches (Doug Christie and Bobby Jackson).
Only two? Mus be holding off announcing Aneel as an assistant coach NBA 2.0 seconds before the Kings make their lottery pick.
Maybe they could announce an eel?
That would be a more qualified hire.
Well, GM McNair already has some connection to Daryl Morey
That connection could be electric!
Jackson is not an assistant coach. Or are you suggesting he’s not going to be the G league coach anymore?
Still waiting for them to announce that the entire basketball organization has been replaced.
Time to kill anything associated with the culture.
Guessing Vivek’s son is the next coaching hire announced.
Thus a “Whole New Culture!”
Next season’s new GM . Or sooner .
Didn’t they just appoint Alvin Gentry to the front office?
They have….maintaining normal.
I personally would prefer Gentry as the designated post game speaker at the post game media events. His honesty is appreciated.
Alvin would be a good TV analyst !
That was, at least to me, clearly a sympathy hire to help a good man save face and lose his job with dignity.
I like Gentry. Good man.
I don’t think Vivek sees it as a sympathy hire though. He is forced to pay him anyway. Vivek at least wants him to do something.
This made me laugh!
I don’t think Vivek has any sympathy. If he did he would have sold the team to a competent owner by now.
Bonus: In 2009 he published an academic article (in English, which is not his first language…even more impressive) titled “Identifying and analyzing the construction and effectiveness of offensive plays in basketball by using systematic observation”.
First line of the abstract (an abstract is like a preview for an academic article): “In the field of sports research, there is a growing need for the rigorous collection of data that provide empirical evidence about the complex reality they refer to.”
Last line of the abstract: “This investigation proposes a new model of analysis for studying the effectiveness and construction of offensive basketball plays in order to identify their outcomes, thus providing coaches with an important device for improving or consolidating them.”
According to his Wikipedia, he’s also very close to obtaining his PhD. Appears to be a smart dude and very experienced as an assistant coach. Love this hire.
Me like smart people for KANGZ!
What’s “smart”, precious? Golem*cough*Golem
At first I thought this was written by Vivek with the middle part detailing “4 on 5”.
OT: Good article on Keegan Murray the person, more than the basketball player.
https://twitter.com/ringer/status/1527235169467486208?s=21&t=kJClEHPXnBFcoqx-RHWPdA
Nice read! Thanks for sharing.
Makes me really root for him wherever he lands in the lottery.
Great article! I don’t think we should overthink him. He’d be a solid pick at #4.
agree
I love what I’ve learned about him. He really seems like a Monte kind of pick– smart, hard-working, quietly confident, and super motivated. My gut tells me Keegan Murray will be a King, one way or another.
This is an excellent story about a player that most of us already like, and this manages to enhance it. He sure reads like a McNair-type of player, and I’d guess it won’t be a problem getting him here for workouts and interviews, thanks to jumping up to four.
Gonna be a rough month: I love that KM is a hard worker, and probably ready to compete at the NBA level. I’m also in love with what Sharpe has, and how high much better he could become. Ivey’s length, athleticism, ballhandling, and ceiling are also intriguing.
I suppose that if the top three go as planned, and neither of Detroit or Indiana will pay to swap and move up, Sharpe may be too special to pass up at four. I don’t know if Murray would be taken there, but to repeat, he sure seems like the kind of player for which McNair has shown fondness.
The Kings are going to get themselves a pretty good player!
Andy-
these are the choices at 4: Murray, Sharpe or Ivey
Ivey- highest ceiling- Derrick Rose like but he is redundant with Fox (heard that a lot).
Sharpe- high ceiling, zero experience. Can shoot
Murray- steady, high floor.
This is a tough choice- Ivey is BPA but are the Kings just repeating themselves. ?Sharpe plays the most coveted position . Murray is good and safe.
Kings could narrow down the choices: let al teams know Kings are taking Ivey- and then see who bids the highest but take only the Detroit or Indy offer- don’t want to drop away from Murray or Sharpe options. Hawks did this with Luka- they wanted Trae, induced Mavs to give up a pick for the right to switch picks.
Detroit may want Ivey. Does Indiana want him? if not, who would they take? (Murray).
I would not drop – trade down past 6. Theat ensures either Murray or Sharpe.
Definitely agree with you there, five or six is as low as I’d swap, barring an extraordinary offer that would involve Sacramento getting an all-star-level player in return. Ideally, that would be a 3/4/5 who can reliably spread the floor.
Siakam leaps to mind.
I’ve seen a number of pundits try and convince us that Ivey is the consensus BPA after the top 3 but, based on what? I read his shot is average and his defense needs a lot of work, how is that the 4th BPA, just cuz he’s fast and can change gears quickly?
I’ve read that Ivey’s defense is fine. His biggest questions are his shooting & playmaking.
I don’t think Ivey is the best player available at 7.
Just for the sake of discussion, there was another recent prospect who shoots with his off hand. I’ve got foggy brain right now. Was it the 2nd round pick for the Pelicans who turned out to be a steal this year? I think he played at Alabama and everyone thought he had a physical handicap that would prevent him from playing, even at the college level? Another great story.
My best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who’s going with a girl who saw Ferris pass-out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it’s pretty serious.
Herb Jones
Yeah, him. I’m just not sure if he’s the one who shoots with his off hand or if I’m confusing him with someone else. In any event, the Herb Jones story is a good one, and, hey I like stories.
I know nothing about Murray, but reading the article’s description, I immediately thought of Rudy Gay.
Awesome hire. May I say, it would be awesome to have someone hired off the Kings bench to be someone else’s next head coach. That would be awesome. And I can see that happening within 2 years with Fernandez.
Can’t tell if she’s saying “hit you” or “hate you”
What the heck?
He’s goin” out there!
He has come a long way since his No 1 hit in France at 4 years old
If Detroit supposedly is into Richaun Holmes:
Richaun Holmes, Justin Holiday, & #4
for
Jeremi Grant, #5
Detroit gets a potential star in Ivey or Sharpe or Murray plus their athletic energy big man to put next to Saadiq Bey and Cade Cunningham. Grant doesn’t really match up with the Pistons overall timeline, thus the trade rumors back in Januray and February. Kings get Ivey or Sharpe plus Jeremi Grant and keep Harrison Barnes.
Kings potential lineup of Fox, Sabonis, Grant, Barnes, DiVincenzo, with potential stars in either Sharpe or Ivey.
Other option is the Pistons want the expiring contract of Barnes instead of Holmes and Holiday and then the pick swap. Same thing but the Kings lose Barnes. Not as enticing.
I love that the Kings have a lot of options right now.
Sounds like a good trade for us. Grant is quite possibly the best player involved regardless of who’s picked with #s 4 & 5!
I think Holiday still has his own value………he is a good defender and decent 3 pts shooter
With a better coach and a full season with other teammates, I think his production and 3pts % should get better………
All importantly is that we lacks of 3 pts shooter
He looks washed-up, and over-the-hill.
You could not give him away !
TD is a better 3 point shooter though and he does “other stuff”
This deal makes sense to me, and if Kings can get Grant and Murray, that would be great. I think Monte goes into draft night with a number of deals on the table depending on who still available at #4, and pulls the trigger if a good deal is available.
I feel like this trade over-values the jump from #4 to #5.
Indications are that DET is apprehensive abt paying Grant’s next big contract (FA next summer), so this deal gets them some value for him as opposed to losing him for nothing.
Sounds good to me!
I guess they’re clearing space for MBIII?!?
That’s because Grant wants an astronomical figure. Who pays him? Kings?
Insert Val Kilmer: “I’m your Huckleberry”
I doubt Monte agrees to it. But Vivek might.
I think it’s difficult enough to get quality players to Sac without disqualifying anyone who might leave when his contract is up.
Jerami Grant is fine, but at his current price? I’m skeptical. At the raise he wants? IMO, you let another team take that risk.
would the Kings get his Bird right? making it easier to resign him.
Its a risk, no doubt. Worst case, he plays here for a year (supporting Monet/Vivek’s “win-now” mindset, which I don’t agree with BTW) and the Kings don’t resign him. The deal still gets them Keegan Murray (or other pick at 5) and gets Holmes off the books.
Best case: They resign Grant, have a stud from #5 and Holmes is off the books.
As long as it gets the King’s organization as a whole moving in a positive direction, I’m all for it.
I’m impressed… So Claude isn’t even out of reach for Vivek? I haven’t seen him court side. Another “dot” comer I assume.
Maybe except if the top tier is 4 deep, then Detroit moves up a tier. and if they love Ivey, it may be worth it. I had hoped for #4 for #5 = a pick next year ( first round) like the Mavs trade but the Holmes for Grant angle adds some interest. I would do that. I am meh ! on Holiday.
Grant is solid, not great. Fell backward in Detroit.
But Grant + Murray or Sharpe is interesting.
Maybe they would throw in Bagley ( very loud LOL)
Amazing ! see my comment above. I believe Detroit may very well want Ivey or maybe Sharpe. Not Murray. They would have to strongly prefer one or the other since if we take one they get the other. Their preference is key.
Second- they may want Holmes since they have Stewart at the 5 spot.
Hawks trade 3 (Doncic) for 5 and got a #1.
If we trade 4 + Holmes + Holiday for 5, why could we not get more than Grant?
Grant + Sharpe or Murray for Holmes and Ivey (assuming that’s their preference) is not bad. Not as good as the Hawks trade, IMO, but good.
For deception, Kings go to NYK and offer #4 (Ivey) for their 11 and picks for the next two years. Talk it up. NYK would be interested. I would never do that trade but if Detroit thinks Kings would, then they are more hungry for this one.
I do think it is dependent on someone (Detroit) really liking Ivey. and the Kings seeing him as redundant, although I think he is really good.
If Detroit likes Murray or Sharpe, then Kings still have to choose on Ivey
If Detroit puts Bey on the table, I become even more interested.
Love it and would fit well . Get with it Monte !
Warriors defense and Nuggets offense with Sabonis as the focal point. I like it!
And KangZ fense….no d or o
offense built around Jokic … offense built around Sabonis … sounds to me like the organization has a vision …
Seems a pretty good idea to run your initial halfcourt sets through Domas. Especially since the majority of your shots come in the halfcourt anyway.
Domas running the half court and Fox running the break on Sabonis outlet passes really makes for an interesting pair. They’re truly complementary offensive players, even if the defense leaves a lot to be desired.
That has been my prediction for a while now. The trend for building teams around a passing big men continues. This is a great hire.
This makes me wonder if the Anjali hire was Monte’s way of throwing Vivek a bone to keep him satisfied when he starts feeling a bit too Viveky. “4 on 5! Draft the one-handed Duke guy! Jazz! Crowdsourcing!” “Here, Vivek, have an Anjali action figure.” “Ooohh!”
The most KANGZY next step would be the Stockton GM “resigning” after a few calls from Vivek to give Anjali what she wants.
the Stockton GM better have a personal bodyguard and always have someone else taste his meals before he eats anything he hasn’t prepared himself! Also, stay away from hi-rise windows.
I didn’t know Vivek was Russian.
DE-FENESTRATION clap clap clapclapclap DE-FENESTRATION clap clap clapclapclap
His full name is Vivekski Radaniveski.
Maybe we should give him an unsecured cell phone and send him to the front line.
All Hi-Rise the Hot Hand.
It’s that chicken place, great episode!
Kenny Rogers Roasters
Monte did not hire her – Vivek did and that shows you all you need to know about this shit show .
Badge Legend