Nuggets coach Michael Malone says Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez can be NBA head coach
Jordi Fernandez is considered connective tissue for the Sacramento Kings. He’s head coach Mike Brown’s top assistant, leading advisor on the defensive end and the mastermind of the defensive player of the game chain.
Fernandez stepped in for Brown for the second time this season on Tuesday night, on Fernandez’ 40th birthday, no less.
Fernandez didn’t get the birthday gift he likely coveted most: a win. The Kings dropped their game against the Denver Nuggets, 113-106, giving them three losses in their last four contests, all coming at Golden 1 Center. Brown was absent because he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day.
It was less than two weeks after Fernandez replaced Brown on the bench in Toronto when Brown was ejected for going after a referee. The Kings beat the Raptors by one point, which proved pivotal during their six-game road trip earlier this month.
Tuesday’s loss wasn’t entirely surprising for Sacramento (17-15), which was without star center Domantas Sabonis, who will miss an uncertain amount of time due to an avulsion fracture in his right hand. Denver, which boasts two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, moved to 22-11, the best record in the Western Conference. The Nuggets went on a 17-10 run over the final 3:28 to win after trailing by 20 points in the second quarter.
“I personally take the blame,” Fernandez said after the loss. “This team that we’ve played against, they’ve been together and in close games a lot of times, and we needed to meet the expectations. We were not very clean. ... So I have to be better and I have to help the guys a lot more.”
Fernandez, a native of Badalona, Spain, sounded like a head coach taking the weight of the loss off his players’ shoulders. And based on the way those who know Fernandez talk about him, it likely won’t be the last time he’s in that position, talking to the press after games.
“I think one day Jordi will be a head coach in this league,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said. “He’s been a head coach in the G League. He’s got great international experience. This team is on the right path with the right coaches, so I’m really happy for them.”
Fernandez worked on Malone’s staff with the Nuggets the last six seasons before Brown hired him in June lead his staff in Sacramento. That trio was connected back in Cleveland during Brown’s head coaching stint. Malone was one of Brown’s assistants and Fernandez was a player development coach there from 2009 to 2013. He served as the head coach of the G League Canton Charge in 2014 and 2016, and worked with Brown coaching the Nigerian National Team in the Olympics.
Kings staffers and players agree with Malone’s assessment. They believe Fernandez has the chops to become a head coach in the NBA. He’s considered a strong communicator, knows how to keep things light, and is adaptable and creative.
Part of his adaptation came Tuesday, when he tried a smaller lineup against the Nuggets. The Kings have traditionally kept a center on the floor throughout the season, but they tried Trey Lyles there Tuesday, even against Jokic, arguably the top center in the NBA.
The results were mixed. The Kings were outscored 93-74 over the final three quarters while none of their lineups had much success against the Nuggets. The adjustment to try going small — using De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes and Lyles — showed signs of promise with Barnes using his physicality against Jokic defensively while all five players could shoot and make plays on the offensive side.
It might be something the team tries again versus Denver in the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday if Sabonis’ absence continues. The Kings haven’t had that lineup on the court at all this season previously, according to Basketball Reference.
“It wasn’t something we practiced,” Huerter said, “but I think every NBA team has lineups where they’re able to get small, trying to take advantage of different looks on the offensive side of the court. For the most part, we were (double-teaming Jokic) defensively.
“It’s a lineup we haven’t used a lot, but I thought it was pretty effective for us.”
As the team’s lead assistant and defensive coordinator, Fernandez has been charged with turning the Kings around from one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA last season to serviceable this year. The Kings are 18th in defensive efficiency after finishing 27th a year ago.
Fernandez has been known to surprise players with defensive drills they’ve never seen before at practice. During a session earlier this year, Fernandez had players running ladders while trying to catch tennis balls being thrown at them from either side. It’s designed to help players deflect passes and get steals. It was one example of a handful of unique drills.
“It’s just random,” Kings guard Malik Monk said of Fernandez’ drill. “And the game of basketball is random. Yeah, man, I like Jordi.”
But in order for Fernandez to get real consideration for a head coaching job, the Kings will have to prove they can be a sustainable winner, similar to what Malone helped curate during his time in Denver. The Nuggets won 33 games during his first season in 2015-16 and improved to 40, 46, 54 and 46 wins over the next four season, including a run to the Western Conference finals in 2020.
“That’s all it takes,” Malone said. “The opportunity to get seen and viewed as if you are a head coaching candidate, and it’s amazing how quickly that can change. ... You always want to see guys that work for you, that are loyal to you, give up and sacrifice so much to get that opportunity. (I’m) happy that Jordi’s in a good place with good people.”
This story was originally published December 28, 2022 at 12:52 AM.
