Nets Decided to Pivot Away From Ime Udoka Hire for Multiple Reasons

Several factors were behind the Nets’ decision not to move forward with the hiring of suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Instead, the Nets announced that they would retain interim coach Jacque Vaughn on a full-time basis.

Following the dismissal of Steve Nash on Nov. 1, the Nets reportedly were closing in on a deal to hire Udoka, suspended for the season after what the Celtics determined was an inappropriate relationship with a female employee.

But as recently as last week, Nets owner Joe Tsai was being persuaded not to hire Udoka, per Marc Stein of the Stein Line.

Along with everything else, the Nets recently made a suspension of their own, this one involving point guard Kyrie Irving, after Irving shared the link to an anti-Semitic film available on Amazon.

So by not hiring Udoka, the Nets were playing it safe and not bringing more drama to the organization.

“These factors include an investigation and due diligence process by the Nets into the suspended coach taking longer than initially expected, the outcry after word of their plan became known to people outside and inside the organization and the short- and long-term question marks around the team’s ability to contend in the Eastern Conference as a result of the indefinite suspension of Irving,” Charania wrote.

As for Vaughn, it appears the Nets’ management was impressed with the players’ approach and effort during his first four games since replacing Nash.

“Once it became clear to the team that they could not proceed with their plan to hire Udoka, the decision to hire Vaughn was made largely in part due to the buy-in from Nets players under Vaughn, according to sources close to the situation,” Charania added. “Vaughn is said to have created positive energy inside a Nets locker room dealing with external stress.”