Nets shift gears with head-coaching decision

The moves comes two days after it was reported that owner Joe Tsai was being advised to reconsider bringing suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka back into the fold. It was reported last week that the Nets were expected to hire Udoka as their next head coach after Steve Nash was recently let go in a mutual decision.

Udoka is serving a season-long suspension for violation of team policies related to an improper relationship with a Celtics female staff member. The 45-year-old served as an assistant on Nash's bench in Brooklyn during the 2020-2021 campaign.

Vaughn spent 12 seasons as an NBA player from 1997 through 2009, including two years with the Nets from 2004 through 2006. The 46-year-old's first head coaching job was with the Orlando Magic from 2012 to 2015, and he had been an assistant with the Nets since 2016.

Since taking over for Nash, Vaughn has helped lead Brooklyn to a 2-2 record. The Nets enter Wednesday tied with the Miami Heat at 4-7 and just outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.