Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Nets name Jacque Vaughn their new head coach

The Brooklyn Nets have named Jacque Vaughn as head coach.

“Jacque’s basketball acumen, competitiveness and intimate knowledge of our team and organization make him the clear-cut best person to lead our group moving forward,” said General Manager Sean Marks. “He has a proven ability to get the best out of our players, hold them accountable and play a cohesive, team-first style of basketball.”

Vaughn was named acting head coach on November 1.

Per the New York Post, “the Nets, who reportedly were zeroing in on suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka, instead have removed the “interim” label on Jacque Vaughn, who is now the head coach. The Nets have gone 2-2 in four games since Steve Nash was fired, but under Vaughn, they have held their opponents under 100 points for three games straight – the only three times they have done so this season.”

Vaughn, who was in his seventh season as an assistant coach with the Nets, also served as the team’s head coach for a 10-game regular season stint during the 2019-20 season. He compiled a 7-3 regular season record and guided the Nets through their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors. He previously spent two-plus seasons (2012-15) as head coach of the Orlando Magic and was a pro scout for one season (2015-16) and assistant coach for two seasons (2010-12) with the San Antonio Spurs.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, the Los Angeles native enjoyed a 12-year playing career in the NBA after being selected with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. In 776 career games with the Jazz (1997-2001), Hawks (2001-02, 2003-04), Magic (2002-03), Nets (2004-06) and Spurs (2006-09), Vaughn recorded averages of 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes per game. He made nine playoff appearances in his 12 NBA seasons and was a member of the 2007 NBA champion Spurs. Vaughn is one of the most decorated players in the storied history of Kansas basketball, both on and off the court, leaving Lawrence as a two-time consensus second-team All-American, the 1996 Big Eight Player of the Year and a two-time Academic All-American. Vaughn’s jersey (No. 11) was retired by the Jayhawks in 2002.

Spurs forward Zach Collins has leg fracture

San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins underwent an MRI examination in San Antonio that has confirmed a non-displaced fracture of the fibula head.

Collins suffered a left lower leg contusion during the Spurs-Clippers game on November 4 at the AT&T Center, which was later imaged and revealed the non-displaced fracture.

Per the San Antonio Express-News, “Collins’ injury comes at a time when he was beginning to find a groove as part of the Spurs’ bench unit. He averaged seven points and 6.3 rebounds in the Spurs’ first nine games, and is leading the club’s regulars in blocks at 1.2 per game.”

Raptors forward Pascal Siakam out with adductor muscle strain

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam has been diagnosed with a strain of the right adductor muscle.

Siakam will be re-evaluated in two weeks, and his condition will be updated as appropriate.

Siakam is averaging team highs of 24.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists in nine games this season. He is shooting .479 (80-167) from the field and has six double-doubles, including two triple-doubles.

Warriors off to a rough start this season

Via the San Jose Mercury News:

The Warriors have treated the beginning of the regular season as if the end result is guaranteed.

It isn’t.

The Warriors are 3-6, and winless on the road. It’s too early to change expectations, but it’s clearly not too early to create some real problems.

The Dubs need to treat the next few games like something is on the line. That requires the whole team to share that mentality.

It’s time for the Warriors to swallow their pride.

Coach Steve Kerr and his staff need to shake things up. The veterans need to feel a real sense of urgency. The young players need to check themselves. The organization’s higher-ups — all the way up — need to slow their roll.

Even columnists and fans need to re-evaluate why it is they believed success would be so seamless to start the season.

The Warriors’ brass believes in a “two-timeline” plan.

Right now, the Warriors are facing a “no-timeline” reality.

FULL ARTICLE

Nets suspend Kyrie Irving

STATEMENT FROM THE BROOKLYN NETS

“Over the last several days, we have made repeated attempts to work with Kyrie Irving to help him understand the harm and danger of his words and actions, which began with him publicizing a film containing deeply disturbing antisemitic hate. We believed that taking the path of education in this challenging situation would be the right one and thought that we had made progress with our joint commitment to eradicating hate and intolerance.

We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity – but failed – to clarify.

Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets. We have decided that Kyrie will serve a suspension without pay until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct and the suspension period served is no less than five games.”

Raptors beat Spurs by 43 points

Via the San Antonio Express-News:

The outcome of Wednesday’s game between the young and depleted Spurs and playoff-tested Raptors was perhaps not so surprising.

The final score, however, was historic. The Spurs lost 143-100, the most lopsided margin in coach Gregg Popovich’s 27 seasons on the bench.

The previous worst was a 42-point loss at Chicago in March 1997, Popovich’s first season.

Credit in part goes to the Raptors, who overwhelmed the Spurs with size and length uncommon even in the NBA.

Toronto started no player smaller than 6-5. Each player to log at least 10 minutes for the Raptors was at least that tall.

FULL ARTICLE

LA Clippers fined by NBA for violating league injury reporting rules

The NBA today announced the LA Clippers have been fined $25,000 for violating league injury reporting rules. The Clippers failed to disclose an accurate game availability status for guard Brandon Boston Jr. and forward Moussa Diabate prior to the Clippers game vs. the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 30 at Crypto.com Arena.

The Clippers listed Boston Jr. and Diabate as unavailable (due to an assignment in the NBA G League) but both players ultimately played in the game.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on Kyrie Irving

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today issued the following statement:

“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material. While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize. I will be meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss this situation.”

Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets and the ADL issue joint statement

JOINT STATEMENT FROM KYRIE IRVING, THE BROOKLYN NETS, AND THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE

The events of the past week have sparked many emotions within the Nets organization, our Brooklyn community, and the nation. The public discourse that followed has brought greater awareness to the challenges we face as a society when it comes to combating hate and hate speech. We are ready to take on this challenge and we recognize that this is a unique moment to make a lasting impact.

To promote education within our community, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets will each donate $500,000 toward causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities. The Nets and Kyrie Irving will work with ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), a nonprofit organization devoted to fighting antisemitism and all types of hate that undermine justice and fair treatment for every individual. This is an effort to develop educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of antisemitism and bigotry.

“I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” said Kyrie Irving. “I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light.”

“There is no room for antisemitism, racism, false narratives or misguided attempts to create animosity and hate,” said Sam Zussman, Chief Executive Officer of BSE Global, parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. “Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need to ensure education in these areas. We are putting our prior statements into practice because actions speak louder than words.”

“At a time when antisemitism has reached historic levels, we know the best way to fight the oldest hatred is to both confront it head-on and also to change hearts and minds. With this partnership, ADL will work with the Nets and Kyrie to open dialogue and increase understanding,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “At the same time, we will maintain our vigilance and call out the use of anti-Jewish stereotypes and tropes – whatever, whoever, or wherever the source – as we work toward a world without hate.”

As in past years, the Brooklyn Nets will continue to support and participate in Shine A Light, an ongoing initiative dedicated to spotlighting modern day antisemitism.

Additionally, to ensure a sustainable and meaningful impact in driving awareness and education on the important topics of hatred based on race, ethnicity, and religion, the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty and the teams’ affiliated organizations will host a series of community conversations at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, in partnership with ADL and other national civil rights organizations as well as local community associations.

InsideHoops.com Reaction: Nice big step here from multiple parties. Collectively, a positive effort. And the large financial donations, assuming they go to organizations that do fight antisemitism, are very generous and an impressive gesture. One issue: What Kyrie said above isn’t really an actual apology. Taking responsibility for doing something just means “yeah, I did that.” Doesn’t mean you’re sorry for doing it. I ordered a pizza earlier, and guess what? I take responsibility for ordering that pizza. As for specifics about the film’s rabid, hardcore antisemitism (it promoted Holocaust denial, presented Adolf Hitler as a source worth listening to, and other disgusting things), Kyrie seems intentionally vague. Hitler hated Black people. Yet Kyrie watched a film that plugged Hitler, and his “free thinker” brain kept rolling with it? No alarm in his head went off? And despite a long-time history of making questionable decisions (Earth is round, Kyrie), he is still, as of tonight, a vice president in the NBA Players Union.