Former Utah Jazz assistant coach Gordon Chiesa has resigned his first assistant's position with the New Jersey Nets, citing family reasons.
Chiesa, 55, a New Jersey native, left Utah June 9 after 16 seasons as the No. 2 assistant on coach Jerry Sloan's staff, saying the move up to first assistant would be important as he pursues an NBA head coaching position. He was replaced a few months later by the rehiring of Scott Layden, once Utah's basketball operations chief.
Word in New Jersey is that Chiesa's family may have been unhappy there. One of his teenage sons was born in Utah, and both sons lived most of their lives here.
Jazz senior vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor said he spoke to Chiesa by phone Saturday but would not reveal any details.
O'Connor did say, "Gordie is family first. He always has been."
Chiesa's resignation was announced on the Nets' Web site with this statement from Nets president Rod Thorn: "Gordie is a wonderful coach, "said Thorn. "We wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors."
The Web site gave this statement from Chiesa: "The Nets are a first-class organization. I wish them only success in all of their future challenges."
DIFFICULT TO START: Asked if anyone has yet nailed down a starting position for Wednesday's season opener, Sloan said Monday he hasn't cemented any of his lineup and that it will probably change some through the early season.
He said forwards Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur were the most consistent preseason players.
While he couldn't reveal Wednesday's starting point guard — "I haven't decided that yet" — he did say, "I would say it would be probably difficult for me to start (top draft pick Deron Williams) right now.
"He has a lot of work to do. We have a lot of work to do as a team," Sloan said. "He's done OK; he's done all right; he's had his moments. He's a young kid. He's got a lot to learn. He's a pretty intelligent player, and I think he can do that."
Williams said he's fine with whatever Sloan decides, though he expects to play Wednesday. He said he's excited for his first NBA game that counts but didn't feel nervous in the preseason and doesn't expect to now. "I definitely feel comfortable," he said after accomplishing his preseason goal of learning the offense and running the team.
NELSON IN GERMANY: Former Utah State University star Spencer Nelson, one of two final cuts from the Jazz preseason roster late last week, was to arrive in Germany Monday to play for the defending German champion, GHP Bamberg, which is in the EuroLeague's A division. Bamberg was to open Euro play Thursday at Benetton Treviso in Italy. Nelson, projected as a rebounding power forward for Bamberg after playing small forward with the Jazz, should be eligible to play that first game.
Bamberg was outrebounded in four of its first six local games. "It was really important for us to find a guy like to him help us on the glass," said Bamberg coach Dirk Bauermann in a story by Dave Hein on EuroLeague.com. "He's the ultimate team player, he's a good rebounder; does a lot of different things . . . and is a tough defender who can play against bigger guys or more mobile forwards."
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