When Jacque Vaughn replaced Steve Nash as coach of the Brooklyn Nets in November 2022, the purpose was to help the franchise reach its championship potential with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The All-Star pairing requested a trade from the franchise three months into Vaughn's tenure. He was innocent in the ongoing issues Durant and Irving had with the organization, but their inevitable departure came under Vaughn's tenure.
Less than two years after his arrival, the Nets dismissed Vaughn from his coaching duties Monday morning, as first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Vaughn's experience as coach of the Nets resembles that of former Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas, who was thrown into a rebuilding situation three months into his tenure.
When Silas took over the Rockets in October 2020, he vowed he wasn't a rebuilding coach. But the departure of James Harden and Russell Westbrook thrust Silas into an unfortunate situation.
Houston went through a youth movement under Silas, ultimately leading to his jettison in April.
Silas won a combined 59 games during his three-year stint in Houston. Vaughn coached 97 fewer games than Silas but finished his tenure in Brooklyn with 71 victories. He also led the Nets to the 2023 postseason despite the loss of Durant and Irving.
Silas and Vaughn were in two different circumstances each time they crossed paths last season. March of 2023 marked the last time Silas and Vaughn coached against each other.
The Nets defeated the Rockets in a 118-96 victory inside the Toyota Center. But before the game, Vaughn took a moment to describe how a mid-season shake-up for any coach can be "difficult" after it changes the franchise's trajectory.
The two coaches had different experiences at the helm of their respective teams. But now, Silas and Vaughn are more alike than ever before.
"You just have to deal with it," Vaughn said. "You have to embrace it — and we have as a staff. You have to look forward to the challenge I do every day. It gives you an opportunity to form new relationships to get to know guys more than just on a basketball level.
"It also gives you a chance to be vulnerable in front of them and find solutions together. Overall, it's just a challenge you have to accept."
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