New Nets Rumors on HC Jordi Fernandez's Contract Ahead of 2026 NBA Draft Lottery

Despite back-to-back losing seasons, the Brooklyn Nets are committed to head coach Jordi Fernandez continuing to lead the team.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday that the Nets have signed Fernandez and his entire coaching staff to multiyear contract extensions ahead of the 2026 NBA draft lottery next month.

Fernandez worked as an assistant coach under Michael Malone with the Denver Nuggets from 2016 to 2022. He then served as associate head coach of the Sacramento Kings under Mike Brown before taking his first head coaching gig with the Nets ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Fernandez's first year at the helm in Brooklyn produced a 26-56 record. The team selected a record five players in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft and fielded the league's youngest roster this season, with half of its players under 24 years old.

Unfortunately, the 2025-26 campaign was even worse for Fernandez, as the Nets went 20-62 for their first 60-loss season since 2016-17. They will be tied with the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers for the highest odds in the NBA draft lottery at 14 percent. Charania noted that they will have a 40 percent chance to land a top-three pick for the first time since 2010. The draft order will be determined during the lottery drawing on May 10.

Charania added that the Nets will have over $30 million in cap space this offseason, so they could take a significant step in accelerating their rebuild with the right moves. Committing to Fernandez and his staff is a step in the right direction that should provide some stability in Brooklyn.