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Brooklyn Nets catch Hollins as new head coach

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See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.

By Joseph Staszewski

Brooklyn Daily

Lionel Hollis was taken back by seeing his picture displayed boldly and proudly outside the Barclays Center as he arrived to be introduced as the Brooklyn Nets’ new head coach.

“I’m very low maintenance,” Hollins said. “I’m actually embarrassed. I drove up and saw the big billboard with my picture on it.”

It was a quick reminder of why he wanted to be in Brooklyn. The 60-year-old expressed at a press conference on Monday how happy he was to be with a Nets organization and an owner like Mikhail Prokhorov, who has shown he is willing to use his money and resources to win. The New York market was enticing to him, and he feels it will be to free agents as well.

“When you start looking at the whole package, it becomes a very exciting opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.” Hollins said.

His hiring gives the Nets its fourth coach in the last four seasons. It also puts an end to a hectic two weeks. Former coach Jason Kidd, after just one season, reportedly pushed to be in charge of the team’s entire basketball operations. His request was denied and he left to coach the Milwaukee Bucks. Hollins wants no part of any added responsibility or power.

“I’m a basketball coach,” he said. “I don’t want to do Billy’s job. I don’t want to do anybody else’s job in the organization other than the one that I’m hired to do.”

In a time where NBA teams are hiring former players to coach fresh out of their sneakers, Hollins brings 20 years of NBA coaching experience after playing 10 seasons in the league. He was most recently the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2009–2013. In his final season, he led Memphis to 56 wins and the organization’s first trip to the Western Conference finals, but philosophical differences between him and the front office kept him from being brought back.

“What always stood out about Lionel was his teams win,” said Nets general manager Billy King said.

Hollins was in the mix for the Nets job when Kidd was hired last offseason, but didn’t earn an interview. This time, King felt Hollins was the best fit and moved quickly to land him. King sees him as tough coach, who fits his style of play to his roster and has a proven track record from this time in Memphis of developing young players. Hollins coached under Cotton Fitzsimmons and Paul Westphal in Phoenix and played for Hall of Fame coaches Billy Cunningham, Chuck Daly and Jack Ramsey.

“He’s been around a lot of great basketball minds,” King said. “He’s been able to take that in and turn himself into a good coach.”

The Nets roster is still in flux after going 44–38 and reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals. Core players Deron Williams, fresh off ankle surgery, Brook Lopez, who missed most of last season with a broken foot, and guard Joe Johnson are set to return. Brooklyn is waiting on decisions from free agents Paul Pierce and Shawn Livingston. Forward Kevin Garnett has a year left on his contract, but could opt to retire or ask to be traded.

Hollins has briefly talked to Williams, but has not reached out to rest of the players just yet. He said he’ll leave negotiations with Pierce to King, but what anyone on the Nets roster can expect from their new coach is as simple as Hollins himself.

“If they are out watching they know I’m going to be straight with them, be consistent with them,” Hollins said. “We are going to have fun, work hard, and we are going to win.”

Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.

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