The Nets hired retired Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash to be their head coach in the 2020 off-season to replace Kenny Atkinson who resigned midway through the previous season. After the 14 games into the 2020–21 season, the Nets acquired former MVP James Harden from the Houston Rockets, while trading away Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert and others in a four-team trade, creating a "Big Three" superstars lineup with Harden, Durant and Irving. In his debut for the Nets, Harden became the first player in franchise history, and just the seventh player in NBA history, to record a triple-double in their team debut. In February, both Durant, who was also named captain for one of the teams, and Irving were named as starters for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, while Harden was announced as a reserve, the first time the Nets had three players named to the All-Star game in a single season. In March, the Nets signed former six-time All-Star Blake Griffin and seven-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge for the rest of the season following buyouts from the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. However, Aldridge was forced to retire after appearing in five games with the Nets due to health concerns. The Nets clinched a playoff berth for the third straight year, following their victory over the Toronto Raptors on April 27, becoming the first Eastern Conference team, and second overall to do so. The Nets faced the Boston Celtics in the First Round of the 2021 NBA playoffs, defeating them in five games. The Nets then faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the Conference Semifinals and lost the series in seven games.