New Nets head coach has been a big improvment over Steve Nash

Jacque Vaughn replaced Nets former head coach Steve Nash in early November 2022 and has since sent the team surging.

“It’s not a surprise to me that he’s doing well and that the team is doing well because it’s really been a matter of health,” said Golden State Warrior head coach Steve Kerr  in an interview with Kristian Winfield from the New York Daily News on December 21st.

Kerr was deeply critical of Nash's firing but has admitted that Vaughn is doing very well as the Nets new head coach, caulking it up to the new coach's ability to weather the problems Brooklyn was facing back in November of 2022.

“Things seem to have settled down and they’ve gotten healthy," Kerr said in the New York Daily News interview, "not a surprise that they’re clicking, but Jacque deserves credit for helping them get through the storm.” But what led the Nets to fire Steve Nash when he seemed just as capable as Vaughn?

The Brooklyn Nets had a rough start to their 2022-2023 season, and Nash seemed to be the one paying the price. 

The Nets announced on November 1st, 2022 that the team had parted ways with Nash just one day after beating the Indiana Pacers to improve their season record to 2 wins and 5 losses. 

Nash lasted longer than many thought he would. In early August of 2022, it was reported that in a meeting with team owner Joe Tsai, Kevin Durant expressed his lack of faith in the team's direction and requested that Tsai choose between trading him or keeping Nash as a head coach.

That bit of drama in Brooklyn also came on the heels of Kyrie Irving's antisemitism controversy, which has continued to draw bad headlines in the press for months.

“Since becoming head coach, Steve was faced with a number of unprecedented challenges, and we are sincerely grateful for his leadership, patience and humility throughout his tenure,” the Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement.

Marks went on to comment, “Personally, this was an immensely difficult decision; however, after much deliberation and evaluation of how the season has begun, we agreed that a change is necessary at this time.”

Nash had a fairly successful two seasons with the Nets despite his lack of previous coaching experience. 

Under Nash, the Nets had a record of 94-67 and won one playoff round, beating out the Boston Celtics before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round. 

“I’ve gotten to know Steve during his time in Brooklyn, and he is not one to shy away from challenges,” Tsai said in the same release as Marks. “My admiration and respect for him grew over time as he brought hard work and positive attitude to our organization every day, even in periods of exceptional storm surrounding the team.”

During his time with the team, Nash faced a number of challenges. His biggest was dealing with the fallout from Irving’s 2021 absences on the court because of the player's refusal to get vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.

Nash handled the Irving situation as best as any coach could. But it seems regardless of his ability to handle the team on and off the court, Nash was destined to be replaced. 

In a post on his Twitter account, Steve Kerr defended Nash’s performance with the Nets, saying “I think he has all the qualities to be a brilliant coach,” Kerr stated, “but it was a good reminder to me and I think all coaches that we are all at the whim of players, front offices, ownership."

“You really need a solid situation to thrive as a coach in this league,” Kerr went on to note, “Eric [Spoelstra]’s got one here and I’ve got one in Golden State… throw either one of us in [the Nets] situation and we wouldn’t have done any better than Steve.”

Jacque Vaughn was named interim coach and was later promoted to the positon full time on November 9th, 2022.