© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Nets' Kevin Ollie savors first NBA coaching win: "It's just phenomenal"
As the final buzzer horned on Monday night in FedEx Forum, the entire Brooklyn Nets knew that a special dousing within their locker room would take place to officially welcome Kevin Ollie's first-ever victory as a head coach.
And as expected, the little celebration commenced much of the delight of the entire team. Soaked by the victory shower and embracing the game ball of their 111-86 rout over the Memphis Grizzlies, Ollie was beaming with pride to honor his first dub to his beloved ones.
“Yeah, I got the game ball. It’ll go in my office first. Definitely gonna touch it and put it up for my mom in heaven and my sister in heaven,” Ollie said. “I know they were watching over me in this first win. So definitely gonna raise it up and toast to them.”
Resilience paid off
His first two games as the Nets' interim coach haven't been easy, as they absorbed a pair of tough losses. Still, Ollie maintained his optimism, and his faith was granted with the best result that he could ask for.
Brooklyn channeled a collective assault in which seven different players poured double-digit scoring marks. Led by Dennis Schröder’s game-high 18 points, the Nets coast in a wire-to-wire fashion.
Manhandling a handicapped, lottery-bound Memphis team that has no Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart, Brooklyn couldn't care less of the other team's context as the win serves as a refreshing sight to erase their four-game losing slump and recent days of grind from the rapid changes within the team.
“Yeah, it’s just phenomenal. They just kept believing. It’s been a couple up-and-down days, unknown days, and they just stayed together. And one thing I know about his team: They love each other. And that’s the only thing I want to see because love can get through anything,” Ollie said.
Thankful for the chance
Featuring a solid résumé and well-respected reputation as a former journeyman in the NBA, the stars were inclined to Kevin to become a head coach in the Association one day. But more than anything else, he has nothing but an utmost appreciation for Jacque Vaughn for ultimately opening the coaching doors for him in the pros.
Vaughn, the dismissed head coach of Brooklyn after a 21-33 progress heading to the All-Star break, tapped Ollie to serve as his assistant before this 2023-24 season.
“I just want to say thank you to Jacque because I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. He believed in me, bringing me in with no coaching experience, no interview or anything,” he said.
“I want to thank him because I owe it all to him, to god and this organization — Sean Marks, Joe Tsai — everybody believing in me. It's not about me, it's about everybody else.”
