The Brooklyn Nets will be changing coaches for the last 20 games of their season.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Nets and coach Kenny Atkinson are parting ways. The Nets’ Twitter account announced that the decision is mutual between both parties, and assistant coach Jacque Vaughn will be the interim head coach.
The Nets currently have a record of 28-34 and sit at seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Atkinson began coaching the team in the 2016-17 season, and he has a record of 118-190.
Heading into the season, high expectations weren’t placed on the Nets. Their big season wasn’t supposed to happen until 2020-21, when Kevin Durant was supposed to be back from his torn Achilles.
This season has had its challenges, with Kyrie Irving missing time due to a right shoulder impingement. Irving re-aggravated the shoulder in February, and he recently had successful surgery.
The Nets are parting ways with head coach Kenny Atkinson.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 7, 2020
Despite the challenges, it’s surprising that Atkinson and the Nets are parting ways. Atkinson helped lead the Nets to the playoffs last season, and their only All-Star was D’Angelo Russell.
The Brooklyn Nets and Head Coach Kenny Atkinson have mutually agreed to part ways. Jacque Vaughn will serve as head coach for the remainder of the season.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 7, 2020
The Nets will play the Chicago Bulls at the Barclays Center on Sunday, with tipoff slated for 3 p.m. EST.
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