Over a year ago, Canadian Senior Men’s National Team head coach Jordi Fernández was in Lithuania watching Sasha Vezenkov in the EuroLeague Final Four when he received a call from Canada Basketball general manager Rowan Barrett. 

The long-time NBA assistant coach was on a work trip for the Sacramento Kings when Barrett called and asked about his potential interest in coaching the national team at the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023.

“It almost came out of nowhere,” recalled Fernández. “I told him it would be an honour for me to be able to be a head coach to a team like this."

Fast forward a year later, and Fernández is leading Canada back to its first Summer Olympic Games in 24 years while juggling being the new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets — a coveted title he’s been chasing for years.

If you ask Fernández how he got here, he won’t fail to mention how important last year’s FIBA World Cup run with Canada Basketball — winning a historic bronze medal — was for him in landing the Nets job. He mentioned it in his introductory press conference with the Nets and repeated it on the first day of training camp ahead of the Olympics.

“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.”

The 41-year-old was with his wife and parents, who were visiting from Spain, when he received the call that he was about to become the 24th head coach in Nets franchise history. Fernández first phoned Kings head coach Mike Brown — who gave him his first start in the NBA as a player development coach in 2009 — to break the news as it spread.

During the month-long interview process with the Nets, Fernández prioritized keeping Canada Basketball in the loop on his future, as he still planned to coach the team at the Olympics this summer.

“He was steadfast since he’s gotten the job that for him, this was going to be a multi-year commitment,” said Barrett. “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.”

In meetings with the Nets, Fernández emphasized how important it was for him to continue to coach with Canada at the Olympics this summer. Fernández didn’t receive any pushback but only encouragement as Nets general manager Sean Marks understood the importance as he played in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games representing New Zealand.

Barrett wasn't overly familiar with him before Fernández came on board with Canada Basketball last summer. But he did his research and spoke with players who spent time with the Spanish coach. Fernández’s NBA credentials, mixed with his deep understanding of FIBA basketball, made him the perfect candidate.

“I felt like this could be like the opportunity of my life,” said Fernández.

The expectations for Fernández were daunting coming in: take Canada back to the Olympics for the first time in 24 years. 

And with a star-studded core led by NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, Fernández made it work. 

“[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 Canada Basketball forward Dillon Brooks. “He knows how to talk, he knows how to lead, so you know I’m happy for him. Brooklyn’s got a good coach.” 

Brooks and Fernández have built a strong bond over the last year since the FIBA World Cup. The Houston Rockets forward finds himself texting Fernández often, and whenever he visits Brooks in Houston, they grab Spanish food.

“Once you get to those games (with) a lot of pressure, if you have that relationship and you have to coach someone very hard, it’s easier to be successful if you have that connection,” said Fernández.

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. Most players weren’t surprised; some wondered why it took so long, while Kings forward Trey Lyles was personally sad he was losing a coach who had become a friend in Fernández.

“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.”

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. 

He describes it as “good busy” as he prepares to make his dream come true, coaching at the Olympics with Canada while using this experience to help further prepare for what’s to come in his rookie season as a head 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.”