Just a month into the NBA season, and the Brooklyn Nets have already endured more than most teams experience in a season.
After an explosive and chaotic summer, Steve Nash was promptly let go after a 2-5 start — and a coaching search has been underway ever since.
Initially, reports indicated that ex-Celtics coach Ime Udoka was a shoo-in for the job, with various claims detailing negotiations between both sides.
But after days of deliberation, it seems the Nets have decided to go in a different direction. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Nets are rolling with Jacque Vaughn as their new coach instead.
JUST IN: The Brooklyn Nets have named Jacque Vaughn as their new head coach, the team announced.
The Nets had previously planned to hire suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka for the job. pic.twitter.com/RBrVPdD66O
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 9, 2022
NBA Fans Are Shocked At Brooklyn’s Latest Big Move
Despite Udoka’s baggage, he was thought to be the best candidate available to whip these Nets into shape. As the last two years have shown, KD and Kyrie need a coach that they respect — and Udoka is someone who would have commanded that respect. In the end, however, the Nets decided to play it safe and avoid making any moves that might bring their reputation down even further.
Still, many fans were shocked that they turned down such a talented coach like Udoka.
What happened to Udoka? 😀 https://t.co/Vj5qUmLeVB
— Mike Moreau (@mikemoreau85) November 9, 2022
Udoka: “You still want me to be the head—“
Nets: pic.twitter.com/NK5sqemK12
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) November 9, 2022
Great day for Jacque Vaughn, who had been passed over for the Nets job the first time for Steve Nash. The Nets have clearly responded to JV. Now he gets an opportunity to win big.
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) November 9, 2022
Woah. The #Nets named Jacque Vaughn as their new head coach.
SO…Ime Udoka will NOT be going to Brooklyn. He remains on the #Celtics payroll…for now.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) November 9, 2022
letting the public bully them out of hiring ime udoka is peak brooklyn behavior 😭 https://t.co/hqp8YyFMr7
— mariah rose (@mariahcrose) November 9, 2022
It’s really looking like Ime Udoka won’t be coaching in the NBA ever again
— Snoop Eastwood (@SirSavageDa21st) November 9, 2022
Must be true Udoka must have really fucked up lol cause that whole him as a candidate just vanished 😂😂… To the point they goin back to a guy they ain’t even want
— Jay Gatsby (@oneCR_15) November 9, 2022
I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it but fuckin Udoka was right there…
— Kuro-T Poison🐝🇬🇾 AC Shadows szn (@bbaird517) November 9, 2022
Udoka situation must be really bad man https://t.co/naXwrlt3Uw
— Wale Ayoola (@WaleAyoola5) November 9, 2022
Obviously, many of the fans were split on the news. For some, Udoka was the only guy capable of controlling this Nets team. And while the Nets are the ones who seemingly made this choice, they did face a lot of pressure to avoid hiring Udoka.
“With the Nets already embroiled in one controversy over Kyrie Irving, they may end up avoiding another by backing off on hiring Ime Udoka as their next coach due to potential ‘blow back,’ multiple league sources said,” wrote Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. “‘[Nets owner] Joe [Tsai] is getting some blow back’ and there’s ‘too much potential drama,’ one league source said of a Udoka hiring. A second source said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ‘may have stepped in’ and also said ‘there has been some concern from women in leadership positions within the Nets.”
Only time will tell if Vaughn is the right man for the job, but the team has responded to him well enough so far, going 2-2 without Kyrie since he took over.
Regarding what’s next for Udoka, only time will tell what his NBA future looks like — but some think he may never coach at this level again.
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