Is 2024 Olympics the last stop for Jordi Fernandez commitment to Team Canada?

In a story on Jordi Fernández’s double life as head coach of both Brooklyn Nets and Team Canada, Libaan Osman of Canadian Basketball writes that it sure seems like Fernández would like to continue in both roles, something that at least one of his employers would like to see.

In his story, Osman writes that Fernandez spoke extensively with the Nets about his Canadian responsibilities during the interview process that led to Fernandez hiring in April, quoting Rowan Barrett, GM of Canadian basketball (and RJ Barrett’s father.)

“He was steadfast since he’s gotten the job that for him, this was going to be a multi-year commitment,” said Barrett, speaking about Fernandez’s job with Team Canada. “He wanted to help Canada Basketball, not just last summer, but he really wanted to help continue building on the foundation that we’ve built here over several years.”

Fernandez took the job a little more than a year ago after Nick Nurse left because if his new commitments as the Philadelphia 76ers. His task was daunting. Despite having 26 players in the NBA, Canada hadn’t made the Olympics in a quarter century.

He came through, leading Team Canada to a Bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup, beating Team USA.

“I felt like this could be like the opportunity of my life,” said Fernández. While he credits the team with the progress he readily admits he benefited from it.

“It’s all about the team. But at the end of the day, when you have success as a team then you have your own opportunities. That’s what happened to me,” said Fernández. “But again, it was because the organization, from top to bottom, did a great job and I benefited from it.”

Fernandez didn’t promise anything in speaking about his future with Team Canada but he described his summer as “good busy.” Osman described the hectic nature of Fernandez’s summer.

Since being named the Nets head coach in April, Fernández has worked double duty. He’s travelled about 12 times from his previous home of Sacramento to Brooklyn and Toronto, even making a short trip to New York during camp to attend to things with the Nets on Canada Day (July 1.)

He describes it as “good busy”

Osman noted that Nets, particularly Sean Marks, encouraged Fernández and didn’t provide any pushback about his plans regarding Team Canada. “When you get to go to the Olympics, that’s very rare,” said Marks at Fernandez’s press conference. “So the more opportunities Jordi has behind the clipboard, the better,” the Nets GM added. “So I think that’s great for us,”

No word from Osman on how the Nets would feel about Fernandez continuing in his role. With Canada likely to be a continuing presence in FIBA and Olympic play, Fernandez would likely be “good busy” every two years.

Meanwhile, Osman provided some insights on how Fernandez was revered by the NBA players on Team Canada.

There wasn’t a Canadian player on the Senior Men’s National Team who didn’t reach out to Fernández to congratulate him on the Nets job.

Specifically he described the particularly warm relationship between Fernandez and Dillion Brooks.

“[Jordi] put a team together last year, we didn’t know either one of us, we never played with each other that much and he put it together and had the number one offensive and made us play together,” said the Canada Basketball and Houston Rockets forward. “He knows how to talk, he knows how to lead, so you know I’m happy for him. Brooklyn’s got a good coach.”

Osman added that Brooks and Fernández have built a “strong bond” since the FIBA World Cup. Brooks told Osman he texts Fernández often, and whenever Fernandez visits Brooks in Houston, they grab Spanish food.

Trey Lyles, who played under Fernandez both with Team Canada and Sacramento, had similar things to say about Fernandez getting the Nets job.

“I was a little upset, but upset in a good way,” said Lyles. “I’m happy for him because it’s a good opportunity to show his ability as a head coach in the league… he’s always been a positive voice in my ear.”

In summing up his philosophy, Fernandez told Osman he wants to coach,

“It feels good to be a head coach and get this job, but it just means one more step,” said Fernández.

“I still want to be a head coach for a long time, I want to coach a playoff team, I want to coach a championship team so it’s never like the end of the journey or the end of the trip... I’m very happy, but it’s not like I’ve done anything yet.”

• Jordi Fernandez achieves two dreams with the Brooklyn Nets and Canada at the Olympics - Libaan Osman - Canadian Basketball