The Brooklyn Nets announced Saturday that they’ve mutually parted ways with head coach Kenny Atkinson. He had been with the team for three-plus seasons.
Instead, Jacque Vaughn has been named the interim head coach.
With a record of 28-34, Atkinson and the Nets have been underwhelming in a city that also hosts the 19-44 New York Knicks.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported extensively on Atkinson’s departure.
Hired back in April 2016, Atkinson, 52, is a New York native. He guided the team to a 90-156 record with one postseason appearance across his first three-year tenure. However, the Nets were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs.
All three in-season coaching changes in the NBA this season have been with Eastern Conference teams. The New York Knicks (David Fizdale to Mike Miller), Cleveland Cavaliers (John Beilein to JB Bickerstaff) and now Brooklyn Nets (Kenny Atkinson to Jacque Vaughn).
The Nets still hold a five-game advantage over the Washington Wizards (23-29) who are the current ninth seed in the East.
Brooklyn is in a transitionary period with its two biggest stars out with injuries. Kevin Durant (torn Achilles) and Kyrie Irving (shoulder surgery). With the two sidelined, the team is being positioned at the forefront of the conference next year.
The Jacque Vaughn 411
Vaughn is a former championship-winning NBA point guard that won a chip with the 2007 San Antonio Spurs. He retired in 2009 and joined the Spurs coaching staff under Gregg Popovich in 2010.
The former University of Kansas athlete also spent two-plus seasons as head coach of the Orlando Magic from 2012-2015. He compiled a record of 58-158.
However, Twitter has been clamoring for former New York Knicks point guard and current commentator, Mark Jackson to take the job.
The coach is credited with preparing the former dynasty Golden State Warriors for coach Steve Kerr who inherited the team from Jackson in 2014.
Jackson is from Brooklyn and played for 9 teams over his 17 year playing career. In the 2012-2013 season, Jackson led the Warriors to a 47-35 record and a #6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. It was the first time the Warriors had made the playoffs since the 2006-2007 season.
