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James Harden: There aren't a lot of vets anymore, that’s why you see guys in the NBA briefly and then disappear
What do you think about people criticizing the game today? Saying there are too many threes or that it’s out of balance? James Harden: I never want to feel like the old guy complaining, but there aren’t a lot of vets on teams anymore. Young guys don’t have that experience. When I came into the league, I had real vets—Nazr Mohammed, Kevin Ollie, Nick Collison. They showed me how to be a professional, how to work, how to handle everything that comes with being in the NBA. Now? It’s a lot of young guys trying to figure it out on their own. I get it—teams want to take chances on young players. But they don’t know how to be professionals, how to work, how to build a long career. That’s why you see guys in the NBA for just a couple of years, and then they disappear. And that’s what the NBA wanted, I guess, or what people wanted. I don’t know. But back when threes were falling and the excitement was there, nobody had a problem with it.
Jorge Sierra: Utah would be Dennis Schroeder's ninth NBA team. Only five players have been with more teams before their age 32 season (none of Dennis' caliber): Chucky Brown, Damon Jones, Ish Smith, James Ennis and Kevin Ollie.
Kevin Ollie won't return to Nets
Michael Scotto: Sources: Nets will have Steve Hetzel (lead assistant), Juwan Howard and Jay Hernandez on the front bench of Jordi Fernandez’s staff. Kevin Ollie, Will Weaver and Ronnie Burrell won’t return. Ollie was interim coach. Weaver (2019) and Burrell (2023) won G League Coach of the Year pic.twitter.com/NZ6cUzsl9r
Brooklyn Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie played with Iverson during his time with the Sixers and he gushed over what “The Answer” means to the City of Brotherly Love. “He mans a lot to this city and people sometimes misconstrue what Allen brings because all of the different things that he changed for the game of basketball on and off the basketball court,” said Ollie on Sunday. “He’s authentically himself and people don’t know how talented he is off the court. I mean, funny, can sing, can draw people on the plane. People just don’t know how talented this guy is, but the best talent he has is loyalty. Being a great teammate.”
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Sources briefed on the matter say interim head coach Kevin Ollie has been considered as part of the Nets’ process, along with several other coaches, including Heat assistant Chris Quinn and Pelicans assistant James Borrego, but the organization has honed in on new candidates as finalists for the full-time job. Ollie was named the interim Nets coach on Feb. 20 and has compiled an 11-16 record heading into Sunday’s regular season finale at Philadelphia. He was also interviewed as part of the process and met with Tsai, according to league sources.
Erik Slater: Kevin Ollie said Mikal Bridges not playing the 4th quarter of the last few games was a load management decision. “That’s exactly what it is, just lightening his load a little bit.”
Whether the permanent coach ends up being current interim coach Kevin Ollie or someone from outside, the decision is going to be as important as any Marks has made. Ollie is currently the interim after taking over for the fired Jacque Vaughn, who himself had been an interim for the fired Steve Nash. “Yeah, I’m the interim, so I’ve got to find out if I’m keeping the job first,” Ollie replied recently to a question from The Post about his status. “We’re going to have some exit meetings here shortly, probably Monday or Tuesday and then we’ll talk. I’ll talk with Sean, our medical staff.”
Dennis Schroder added 24 points and six assists, and 19-year-old rookie Noah Clowney had a second straight strong performance with 17 points and six boards off the bench. Interim coach Kevin Ollie has stressed there is plenty to play for. “Yeah, they just kept hunting, they kept hunting, hunting, hunting. And we weren’t finding anything to eat the first three quarters, but they just kept going out there. And then we finally found a pace that we wanted on defense and offense,” Ollie said. “So it’s just hunting season, and we’re not finished yet. We just want to keep hunting until the last seconds run out on the season.
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Erik Slater: Kevin Ollie credited the Nets' rookies with shifting the momentum in the fourth quarter: "It really started with Noah and J Will, my young guys... Playing, blocking shots, getting steals, getting them EGBs... It's just hunting season." pic.twitter.com/R1Cdh9gyWH
Brian Lewis: Kevin Ollie on Dorian Finney-Smith getting to play in front of his dad for 1st time: "I know it's gonna be significant for him and he's gonna handle it like a pro...go out & do his job. But I imagine you have some special joy inside for his dad to watch him finally play." #Nets
Erik Slater: Kevin Ollie said the Nets have not discussed shutting down Cam Johnson and Dennis Smith Jr. for the rest of the season. Said the team is taking it day-by-day but being cautious to ensure both can enter the offseason without any major injuries.
Mikal Bridges on 4.8 magnitude earthquake: 'I felt that for sure'
With the Nets at practice Friday morning, they — like almost everybody else in the area — felt the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that hit at 10:23 a.m. The quake, centered in Readington Township (N.J.), was reportedly one of the biggest on the East Coast in the last century and reached HSS Training Center. “I felt that for sure. I think everybody did,” Mikal Bridges said. “I was by our locker room.”
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