Steve Nash is out in Brooklyn after two-plus seasons.
The embattled head coach was let go by Kiwi Nets general manager Sean Marks on Wednesday (NZ time), after a 2-5 start to the season and plenty of controversy already.
The Nets say a decision regarding the team's next coach "will be made in the near future". Assistant Jacque Vaughn is the acting head coach of the Nets on Wednesday night against Chicago Bulls.
"We want to thank Steve for everything he brought to our franchise over the past two-plus seasons," Marks said. "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 finishes with a 94-67 record in the regular season and 7-9 in the playoffs.
He posted a tweet entitled "Thank you, Brooklyn" a short time after the announcement.
"A very heartfelt thanks to [owners] Joe and Clara Tsai, along with Sean Marks, for giving me the opportunity to coach the Brooklyn Nets," Nash posted. "It was an amazing experience with many challenges that I'm incredibly grateful for."
After getting swept by Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs last April, the off-season was anything but quiet for the Nets. Star Kevin Durant requested a trade in late June, but then told Brooklyn owner Joe Tsai in early August that he'd consider staying, if Nash and Marks were fired.
Durant stayed, but now Nash is gone.
"We began this journey as colleagues, we part as friends," Joe Tsai said.
ESPN reports the Nets will talk to suspended Boston coach Ime Udoka and former Utah coach Quin Snyder, among others, to take the permanent post. The Celtics would let Udoka leave for another job.
Nash was thrust into the spotlight the past few days over the latest Kyrie Irving controversy. On Monday, Irving deleted a link to the movie Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, that he shared four days prior, despite inclusion of antisemitic tropes.
The film traces the theory that Jews claimed the religion and identity of the original Israelites, which prompted the enslavement of Africans then brought to America.
"I just hope that we all go through this together," Nash said, after the Nets notched their second win of the season.
Last season, Irving missed most of Brooklyn's home games, because he refused the COVID-19 vaccine.
Nash also dealt with the trading of James Harden to Philadelphia last season in exchange for Ben Simmons, who didn't play at all in 2021/22.
Reuters
