Steve Nash is already off to a decent start as the newest Nets head coach -- he's quite close with the team's, and one of the NBA's, best players.
In an ESPN article from June 2018, Nash noted his workout routine with Kevin Durant, who worked together when Durant was on the Golden State Warriors and Nash was a consultant with the team.
But with Durant notably being an interesting character, Nash seems to know his true personality.
"He's quite happy not being the alpha dog," Nash said about Durant, despite the 31-year-old being a four-time scoring champion, two-time Finals MVP, and the 2013-14 MVP.
Of course, Durant left Oklahoma City to go to Golden State immediately following the Warriors' 73-9 season. But even Nash knew a championship didn't cure what Steve Kerr calls Durant's vulnerability.
"He didn't have a great summer," Nash said. "He was searching for what it all meant. He thought a championship would change everything, and found out it doesn't. He was not fulfilled. He didn't work out as much as he normally does."
With Durant playing alongside a healthy Kyrie Irving next season, he still may not be the "alpha dog" that Nash may want him to be.
But now, Durant has a coach who could surely motivate him to do so.