Jordi Fernandez celebrated a significant milestone in his coaching career on Sunday, securing his first NBA victory as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets with a 115-102 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The achievement comes after a remarkable 15-year journey that began in his native Badalona, Spain.
Fernandez, who kept the game ball as a memento, plans to display it in his office, noting, “My wife does a great job decorating the house and she doesn’t want my basketball stuff there.” He was joined at the game by his wife, children, parents, friends, and extended family, making the victory even more meaningful.
The rookie head coach, who arrived in the U.S. at 26, has climbed the ranks from head coach of the Canton Charge in the NBA G League to assistant coaching positions with playoff teams in Denver and Sacramento. His long-awaited opportunity to lead an NBA team finally materialized last spring.
Reflecting on his journey, Fernandez said, “It’s very special to come all the way from starting from the bottom in the NBA, working really hard, and moving up through different teams, friends, and memories. You have to enjoy this moment because there’s only one time that you’re a head coach and win a (first) game.”
Despite the personal triumph, Fernandez credited his players for their role in the victory, which included a lively postgame celebration that he humorously described as “fun and wet.” Nets guard Dennis Schroder acknowledged the significance of Fernandez’s achievement, saying, “A guy from Europe, from Spain, being a head coach in the NBA, that’s big time.”
Prior to joining the Nets, Fernandez had a successful summer coaching Canada’s Olympic basketball team, leading them to their first men’s basketball medal with a bronze at the 2023 World Cup. He also served as an assistant coach for Nigeria’s Olympic team during the previous games.
Now, with his inaugural win under his belt, Fernandez looks ahead with ambition. “It represents a moment in my life,” he said of the game ball. “It’s the beginning of something special, and I want to be in this league and with this club for a long time.”
Leave a Reply