The Nets say that HC Jordi Fernandez will miss tonight’s game vs. the Bucks due to illness. Assistant Coach Steve Hetzel will coach in his place.
— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) December 14, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets had a disappointing result on Friday as they lost at the Dallas Mavericks 119-111 mostly due to the fact that Anthony Davis had a strong fourth quarter. Heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn could breathe a sigh of relief about not having to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Nets also were met with a surprise prior to the game.
The Nets announced hours before Sunday’s game that head coach Jordi Fernandez would not be in attendance for the game due to an illness. Additionally, assistant coach Steve Hetzel was chosen to be the head of the bench with Fernandez unable to coach, a move that makes sense given that Hetzel has been Fernandez’s top assistant since the two came to Brooklyn ahead of last season.
“He’s doing well. He calls himself a specimen that he’s he tested positive for the flu, but it has no fever, so he feels good,” Hetzel said during his pregame press conference. “I talked to him this morning, I saw him. He was in here [in Barclays Center]. [He] was in good spirits, but I think it’s just best for him to get some rest.”
Fernandez will be missing his first game since being named the head coach of the Nets heading into the 2024-25 season following being an associate head coach with the Sacramento Kings. Fernandez, 42, has a 32-74 (.302) record as a head coach in the NBA, but part of that record is accounting for the fact that Brooklyn has been in a rebuilding phase for the past two seasons.
Fernandez, who has a background in player development during his time in the league, has done a great job with putting players in a position to succeed, including forward Michael Porter Jr. Porter, who previously had experience with Fernandez when both were with the Denver Nuggets from the 2018-19 season to the 2021-22 campaign before Fernandez left for Sacramento.