Nets’ Jordi Fernández Out With Flu as Steve Hetzel Coaches vs. Bucks

Hetzel emphasized system continuity, highlighting rookie progress during his first NBA game at the helm.

Overview

Fernández tested positive for the flu and missed Sunday’s game, with staff saying he had no fever and was in good spirits.
Assistant Steve Hetzel served as acting head coach after leading Brooklyn’s Summer League teams and helping install the current system.
Hetzel said he would extend Fernández’s principles of competitiveness, unselfish play and on-court connection.
He offered rare public assessments of the rookie class, praising progress by Ben Saraf, Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Danny Wolf and Drake Powell.
Brooklyn entered the matchup after improved recent form and now faces a tougher stretch, while Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a calf strain.