Nets players woke up from their midafternoon naps on Tuesday to the news that coach Steve Nash had been fired.
General manager Sean Marks and superstar Kevin Durant both insisted no players were consulted on the move. Durant said he was shocked when he heard.
“You’re always shocked when a move like this happens, but it’s normal in the NBA,” Durant said Tuesday night following the Nets’ 108-99 loss to the Bulls. “It’s about getting ready for the game tonight. It’s a quick turnaround always in the league, especially early in the season. You got practice, games coming up so you can’t think too much about it.”
Durant advocated for Nash’s ouster over the summer, but the only warning he and the rest of the team had that the ouster was coming was their own struggling play during the first seven games of the season.
“It’s a similar situation with bigger companies and CEOs. This is what happens when things are not going as expected or you’re not up to the level that the organization has kind of set for itself and it’s unfortunate that he’s gonna be the one,” Joe Harris said. “Obviously it’s a lot more complex than that, but he is the head of the organization.”
The change, with assistant Jacque Vaughn taking over as interim head coach, did not have the intended effect. The Nets collapsed down the stretch in a defeat that put their record at an abysmal 2-6.
Afterward, players said they still have time to turn the season around and that the firing was merely the product of the NBA being a tough, results-oriented business. The off-court drama that has plagued the Nets was set to the side.
“Just a lot of stuff,” Durant said, when asked why it didn’t work with Nash. “We didn’t have a healthy team, just didn’t play well and that’s what happens in the league. S–t happens.
“That doesn’t take away from Steve’s basketball IQ, how he teaches the game. I don’t think it takes away from anything. It just didn’t work out.”
Vaughn said he didn’t know whether the plan is for him to coach on Friday against the Wizards.
“I guess Sean will tell me,” Vaughn said. “I just lace ’em up, put my shoes on every day and do my job.”
Ben Simmons and Seth Curry were both out. Curry is still recovering from ankle surgery and Simmons missed a second straight game due to knee soreness.