After the Kevin Durant – Kyrie Irving tandem fiasco, traded to the Suns and Mavericks respectively, the Nets are in dire need of stability and serenity, and decided to extend Jacque Vaughn until 2027! It’s a big sign of confidence for this former Spurs leader, who was on the Magic bench a few years ago.
Arriving at the Nets in 2016 as an assistant, he experienced the years of study with Kenny Atkinson and then the transition to “bling-bling” with the arrivals of Durant and Irving during the “free agency” of 2019, but also Steve Nash as coach. Named interim coach after the dismissal of the Canadian at the beginning of the season, Vaughn immediately imposed his paw, to the point that the Nets climbed the podium of the Eastern Conference.
63% wins ahead of Brooklyn
His record speaks for him: 32 wins for 19 losses, or almost 63% of victories. But now, his beautiful project has taken the lead on the band following Kevin Durant’s knee injury. Irving then calls for his move, then Durant mimics him. In a matter of hours, four new players arrive in Brooklyn and Vaughn must build a new roster around Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith.
While the team lost a lot in talent, it gained in defense and as a team, and Vaughn seems to be the ideal coach to make the most of it.