from Intern to opponent: The Remarkable Journey of Mike brown and Jordi Fernandez
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The story of Mike Brown and Jordi Fernandez is a compelling narrative of mentorship, ambition, and the unpredictable path to success in the NBA, culminating in a head-to-head matchup between the two coaches as Brown leads the New York Knicks against Fernandez’s Brooklyn Nets. Their professional relationship, spanning nearly two decades, has navigated unexpected turns, from humble beginnings to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, where they will face off on Wednesday. New York Knicks owner James Dolan has made the team’s aspirations clear, stating that “getting to the Finals, we absolutely have to do. Winning the Finals, we should do.”
A “Basketball-Cute” Beginning
The connection between Brown and Fernandez began in 2009, when Brown, then the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, encountered Fernandez coaching at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas. Brown was instantly impressed by the Spanish coach’s innovative European training methods and his ability to connect with players. Recognizing Fernandez’s potential, Brown facilitated an internship with the Cavaliers, even supplementing Fernandez’s income by personally funding training sessions for his son, Elijah.
“Mike let me use a car, a gas card, paid for the room where I lived, and I ate pretty much every meal at the practice facility,” Fernandez recalled, highlighting the extent of Brown’s early support. This generosity even presented a personal challenge as it required a move away from his then-girlfriend, Kelsey. “We’d just started dating in the summer, and she thought I was a coach for the Cavs,” Fernandez explained. Despite the initial disruption, Fernandez embraced the opportunity, finding the experience “transformational” and forging a lasting friendship with Steve Hetzel, who was then the head coach of the Charge and is now an assistant on Fernandez’s Brooklyn staff. “I ended up having one of the best years of my life and created a lifelong freind,” Fernandez said.
Ascent to Head Coaching Roles
Fernandez’s career continued it’s upward trajectory, with six seasons as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets followed by a return to Sacramento in 2022 as Brown’s associate head coach. The Kings’ surprising 48-win season and Brown’s subsequent Coach of the year award further elevated Fernandez’s profile. He then secured his first head coaching position with the Brooklyn Nets, a team currently undergoing a rebuild.League scouts have even joked that Fernandez is “doing too good a job” given the Nets’ recent improved performance, winning six of nine games largely due to defensive improvements.
Brown, meanwhile, has continued to demonstrate his coaching prowess, leading the Nigerian national team to a historic upset over Team USA at the 2021 Olympics and later guiding the Canadian National Team to a bronze medal at the 2023 World Cup under Fernandez’s leadership. He ultimately landed the head coaching job with the New York Knicks, setting the stage for Wednesday’s highly anticipated matchup.
the contrasting situations of the Knicks and Nets highlight the different pressures faced by Brown and Fernandez. “The New York media treats the Knicks a little differently than the Nets,” Fernandez observed. “Mike’s got a different level of pressure. But one thing about him, he’s always up for the challenge.” Brown himself acknowledged the surreal nature of the situation, stating, “To be able to see him sitting in that seat in Brooklyn while I’m in New York…it’s surreal.”
despite the competitive landscape, the bond between the two coaches remains strong. Fernandez served as a sounding board for Brown during the Knicks’ coaching search, and the two are planning a double date, albeit one that won’t take place on Wednesday. As Brown reflected on Fernandez’s growth, he stated, “To see him grow…is unbelievable. He’s done a great job. Obviously, it’s a difficult situation [with the rebuild]. But he’s done a fantastic job getting them to play as hard as they can while getting them to grow and build for the future.”
