The Brooklyn Nets made a surprising move on Monday morning as they announced the firing of head coach Jacque Vaughn. The decision comes as the team has been struggling this season, currently sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 21-33. Vaughn, a former NBA guard, was in his second season as coach of the Nets.
The Nets ended the first half of the season on a disappointing note, suffering a 50-point loss to the Boston Celtics. This loss seemed to be the final straw for the organization, leading to Vaughn’s dismissal. In a statement issued to ESPN, Vaughn expressed his gratitude to the team and everyone he worked with during his tenure. “I hope each individual I interacted with felt respected and valued. Just know I gave you everything I had every single day. Onto the next chapter. Amor Fati,” Vaughn said.
During his time as head coach, Vaughn had a regular-season record of 71-68 and failed to secure a playoff win, going 0-8 in the postseason. He took over the coaching duties from Steve Nash last season and led the team to a 43-32 record before being swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Vaughn’s coaching career with the Nets began in March 2020 when he was given the opportunity to lead the team after Kenny Atkinson was fired just before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He guided the Nets to a 7-3 record in the restart “bubble” at Walt Disney World, earning them a spot in the playoffs. However, despite his success, the organization decided to hire Nash as the head coach, leaving Vaughn to serve as an assistant.
Nets general manager Sean Marks expressed the difficulty of the decision but stated that it was made in the best interest of the team’s future. “Jacque has represented this organization with exemplary character and class for the past eight years. The consistent positivity and passion he poured into our team daily will remain with the players and staff he interacted with throughout his tenure,” Marks said in a statement.
Vaughn’s overall coaching record in the NBA stands at 129-226, including his time with the Orlando Magic where he went 58-158. Despite his departure, the Nets remain focused on rebuilding their roster around forward Mikal Bridges. With significant salary cap space and draft capital, the team has the opportunity to make moves this summer and beyond to strengthen their lineup.
As the Nets bid farewell to Jacque Vaughn, they enter a new chapter in their journey. The search for a new head coach begins, and the team looks forward to the future as they aim to build a competitive roster around their talented players. Only time will tell who will take the helm and lead the Nets to success in the seasons to come.