The Brooklyn Nets did very well with Jacque Vaughn as interim head coach in the Disney bubble.
With the roster depleted, they managed to go 5-3 during seeding play. They were then swept by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, but Brooklyn also lost Joe Harris after Game 2 and never had Jamal Crawford for the series.
Ultimately, it seemed the Nets’ performance in the bubble gave Vaughn a greater chance to earn the permanent head coaching job in Brooklyn.
But it turns out that may not have been the case.
Vaughn didn’t have much of a chance to earn the job because, according to Anthony Puccio of Nets Daily, “Brooklyn’s decision to hire Steve Nash was made in May” after the team “discussed a few options as early as March, including Gregg Popovich.”
Pussio is also reporting Nets general manager Sean Marks was Nash’s “biggest advocate” at the start of the search.
Sean Marks was Steve Nash’s biggest advocate back when Brooklyn started their head coaching search, per source.
Stars played a role, but Marks was ready to embrace “full change” at the head coaching position.
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) September 3, 2020