NBA: Brooklyn Nets fire head coach Jacque Vaughn days after 50-point defeat to Boston Celtics

Jacque Vaughn has been fired by the struggling Brooklyn Nets after five defeats in their last six games, which included a 50-point defeat to the Boston Celtics.

The Nets are 21-33 this season and are currently 11th in the NBA Eastern Conference.

The Nets wrapped up the first half of the season with their heavy loss to the Celtics, which led to Vaughn’s departure in his second season as coach.

In a statement released on Monday, the Nets general manager Sean Marks said: "This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one we feel is in the best interest of the team going forward.

“Jacque has represented this organization with exemplary character and class for the past eight years. The consistent positivity and passion he poured into our team daily will remain with the players and staff he interacted with throughout his tenure.

“We thank Jacque for all he has done for the Nets and the borough of Brooklyn, and wish him, Laura and their family nothing but the best in the future."

Vaughn holds a record of 64-65 in his latest 129-game stint as Nets coach.

The Nets rank 21st in points scored in the division and 16th in points allowed per game.

The former Nets player signed a new multi-year deal as coach less than a year ago, but the 136-86 reverse to the Celtics ahead of the All-Star break marked the end of his reign.

After Steve Nash's departure, Vaughn was promoted from assistant coach to head coach in November 2022 and guided the team to the fifth-best record in the league, which included an impressive 12-1 record in December.

All-Star players Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving left the side, as the Nets built their future around newly-signed forward Mikal Bridges.

Three months later in February 2023, Vaughn put pen to paper on a long-term deal, but which came to an end less than a year later after just eight wins in their last 31 games.

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