Since the Brooklyn Nets parted ways with head coach Kenny Atkinson, many have wondered who the team will find to replace him for next season. But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, you don’t have to search very far to find the favorite for the position, as current coach Jacque Vaughn appears to be the favorite to permanently take over the job.
“People sometimes are treating Jacque Vaughn like he was named the interim coach when Kenny Atkinson and the Nets split up,” Woj said. “But he’s not. He’s the head coach. They didn’t make him interim coach. And while I think the Nets are considering the possibility of a search, I would still give Jacque Vaughn, I would take Jacque Vaughn against the field right now to keep that job.”
It’s an opinion that was echoed by The Athletic‘s Shams Charania, who believes that Orlando will be a good opportunity for Vaughn to solidify his position. There certainly aren’t championship expectations, as the Nets will be heading to Orlando without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, and possibly Spencer Dinwiddie. But if Vaughn can put together a respectable showing, he may officially secure the title of head coach.
“I really do think that the Nets will give Jacque Vaughn a legitimate opportunity to win the job,” Charania said on the Load Management podcast. “This is a guy that comes from the Spurs background, has the same pedigree as Sean Marks. As far as I know, he does a good job of working with players, building that relationship. As crazy as it is maybe for you guys to hear, Jacque Vaughn is going to get a legitimate opportunity to win this job, and obviously we’ll be able to see that beginning July 31.”
