The Brooklyn Nets have wrapped up their head coaching search. The franchise announced that they have hired Sacramento Kings’ assistant Jordi Fernandez for the position.

The Nets fired head coach Jacque Vaughn after a poor start to the 2023-24 season, with assistant Kevin Ollie taking over on an interim basis. Brooklyn finished the campaign at No. 11 on the Eastern Conference standings with a 32-50 record.

Fernandez has served as the Kings’ assistant for the past two years while also coaching Canada’s national team, with whom he won a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. He previously had a stint as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets and served as the head coach for the G League team Canton Charge.

The Nets considered a number of candidates for their head coaching vacancy, including the former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, but ended up deciding that Fernandez was the best option available.

“We’re thrilled to announce Jordi Fernández as Brooklyn’s new head coach,” said Nets’ general manager Sean Marks in a statement. “As we progressed through an extensive search over the past six weeks, it became increasingly clear that Jordi is the best coach to lead our team forward. Jordi brings a diverse set of experiences and basketball knowledge gained over the course of a coaching career that has taken him around the world.”

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The Brooklyn Nets are inching closer to finding their new head coach. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that the Nets already have a list of finalists, which includes former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Budenholzer has been fired by the Bucks after an unceremonious end of the 2022–23 season. Milwaukee finished the regular season with the best record in the league but ended up being bounced out of the playoffs in the first round by the eight-seeded Miami Heat.

Budenholzer is well-regarded around the league, considering his track record of success. He got his first NBA head coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks in 2013–14 and led the franchise to five postseason appearances, including two Conference finals, in six seasons.

After taking over the Bucks in 2018–19, Budenholzer made the Conference semifinals in each of his first four seasons and won an NBA title in 2020–21. However, during his time with the franchise, he was often criticized for sticking to his preferred style and not adapting well to opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.

It remains to be seen whether the Nets, who fired head coach Jacque Vaughn in February, will go with a proven name in Budenholzer or pick out an up-and-coming coach. Their list of finalists reportedly also includes Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young and Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez.

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The Brooklyn Nets have fired their head coach Jacque Vaughn. The move comes after a disappointing first part of the season that saw the Nets compile a 21-33 record, good enough for the 11th spot in the Easter Conference standings.

The Nets elevated assistant Kevin Ollie to serve as the interim head coach. Ollie is expected to finish the season before the franchise embarks on a search for a permanent head coach in the summer.

Vaughn, who played 12 years in the NBA as a point guard, has been part of the Nets’ coaching staff since 2016. He primarily served as an assistant before being hired as the interim head coach early in the 2022-23 season after the firing of Steve Nash. Less than two weeks later, Vaughn got the job on a permanent basis.

As the head coach of the Nets, Vaughn was 71-68, including a short interim stint in 2019–20. He led Brooklyn to playoffs last season, where they were swept by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one we feel is in the best interest of the team going forward,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. “ … 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.”

Kevin Ollie is in his first season as an NBA assistant. He previously served as the head coach of UConn and spent time with Overtime Elite.

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After several months of absence, the Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons returned to action in Monday night’s 147-114 win over the Utah Jazz. And it was quite a comeback for Simmons, as he almost put up a triple-double in just 18 minutes on the floor.

Simmons hasn’t played since early November, dealing with a lingering back issue. He started the game against the Jazz on the bench and was on a minutes restriction, but that didn’t stop him from making an immediate impact.

The former All-Star was aggressive on both sides of the ball while setting up his teammates for easy points, especially in the first quarter, which saw him get six assists. Simmons finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists while adding one steal and one block.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Simmons said that he believes he had a successful return, but mainly because his team ended up winning.

“We got the win, so yes,” Simmons said via ESPN. “That’s the main objective for me, and that’s really all I care about.”

If Simmons continues to play this way and manages to stay healthy, he could be a valuable addition to the Nets as they look to turn around their disappointing first half of the 2023-24 season. Brooklyn team has won just three out of their last 10 games and currently sits at No. 10 in the Eastern Conference with a 19-27 record.

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The Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons may return from injury as soon as Monday, sources revealed to ESPN. The player has been sidelined for over two and a half months due to a lingering back injury.

Simmons’ lower back nerve impingement has kept him out since November 6. As a result, he has been limited to playing just six games for the Nets this season, averaging a career-low 6.5 points yet a career-high 10.8 rebounds.

Arriving at the Nets in a trade deadline deal in 2022, Simmons was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to back soreness and a subsequent surgery. Last season, he played 42 games, averaging 6.9 points and career lows of 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists. With the Nets dropping to 11 place in the Eastern Conference with a 17-26 record, they’ll be hoping for a career resurgence from Simmons, a three-time All-Star and the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year.

The post Simmons May Return for Brooklyn Nets as Soon as Monday appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets are set to spend at least another two months without Ben Simmons, who is continuing to struggle to recover from a pinched nerve in his lower back. The Nets confirmed that Simmons has shown considerable improvement over the past two weeks but that he continues to do individual court work and that his status will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Simmons has only managed to make six appearances this season while missing 20 games as a result of this injury. His last two seasons have also been heavily disrupted by injuries. As part of his rehabilitation process, Simmons received an epidural injection as part of his rehabilitation process.

Brooklyn has also received some positive news on the injury front, with Lonnie Walker IV expected to progress to 5-on-5 play in the coming days after spending the past eight games on the sideline due to a strained left hamstring strain. The Nets guard is expected to return to the lineup next week.

The post Nets’ Ben Simmons Out for Another Two Months appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons is set to miss another week of action as he continues to battle a pinch in his lower back. The Nets revealed on Wednesday that the 27-year-old player has been steadily improving and returned to doing light individual court work after missing six games to date due to his back issues.

Simmons has suffered three back-related injuries over the past three seasons, forcing him to miss last season’s All-Star break because of a nerve impingement in his lower back. The current nerve impingement, on the other side of his back, was detected during an MRI scan last week after Simmons began to experience discomfort in his bruised left hip. His status will be assessed again in another seven to 10 days.

The Nets received good news as well as Cam Thomas continued to improve from an ankle injury that kept him out for the past five games. Prior to spraining his left ankle on November 8, Thomas was averaging 26.9 points per game. He has been cleared for increased on-court activity and is expected to rejoin team workouts next week.

The post Ben Simmons Out for Another Week With Lower Back Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets’ point guard Ben Simmons is set for yet another spell on the sidelines. The team announced that Simmons is dealing with a nerve impingement in his back and will be out indefinitely.

Simmons has a history of back injuries, which caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 campaign and limited him to just 42 games last season. The 27-year-old player looked on track to bounce back in 2023-24 before the issue resurfaced after the game against the Chicago Bulls in early November.

Simmons, who has now missed four straight games, is averaging 6.5 points and 6.7 assists to go with a career-high 10.8 rebounds this season.

Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Nets’ head coach Jacque Vaughn said he is keeping a positive attitude and hopes Simmons will be cleared to return to action in a week.

“You know, these athletes, they want to play, and they want to contribute. And no athlete wants to be hurt. And this is not something he has asked for, not something that he wants,” said Vaughn. “We were trying at the time to really get our group whole and healthy and form an identity together, and he’s a part of that identity. And Ben has brought an element to our team that is irreplaceable because of the style that he plays with and the things that he helps benefit our team in doing.”

The Nets currently have a winning record, sitting at No.7 in the Eastern Conference. With Simmons out, veteran Spencer Dinwiddie is expected to be the team’s primary ball handler and playmaker while Dennis Smith Jr. might also get a bigger role.

The post Nets’ Ben Simmons Out Indefinitely With Nerve Impingement in His Back appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets player Cam Thomas is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks, the team confirmed. This comes after the guard suffered a left ankle sprain.

Thomas was injured during the third quarter of the Nets’ 100-93 win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night when he stepped on the foot of Clippers forward P.J. Tucker. The 22-year-old underwent an MRI on Thursday that confirmed the extent of his injury.

A first-round pick (27th overall) in the 2021 NBA Draft, Thomas has shown constant improvement each season, proving to be this year’s breakout star for the Nets. Averaging 8.5 points as a rookie and then 10.6 points in 2022-23, Thomas is averaging a team-high 26.9 points over eight games (seven starts) this season.

The post Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas Out for at Least Two Weeks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets still haven’t given up on three-time All-Star Ben Simmons despite his struggles since joining the team in 2022. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Nets’ general manager Sean Marks said that he believes Simmons will bounce back and put on a much better display this upcoming season.

According to Marks, Simmons is in a better physical shape than he ever was during his time in Brooklyn, and the Nets plan to “unleash” him when the 2023-24 campaign starts.

“Let’s not dwell on the past, he’s feeling confident about where he is physically,” Marks said. “This is more like, get out here, support him and unleash him. If he’s feeling great, then let him go.”

Simmons landed in Brooklyn midway through the 2021-22 season in a trade that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers. But the move worked out poorly for the Nets so far, as Simmons couldn’t stay healthy and performed poorly when available.

Back injury prevented Simmons from playing a single game for the Nets in 2021-22, and the same issue on top of knee soreness limited him to 42 games last season. The former first-overall pick finished the campaign averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.

The post Nets Plan to “Unleash” Ben Simmons in 2023-24 Says GM Sean Marks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets have wrapped up their head coaching search. The franchise announced that they have hired Sacramento Kings’ assistant Jordi Fernandez for the position.

The Nets fired head coach Jacque Vaughn after a poor start to the 2023-24 season, with assistant Kevin Ollie taking over on an interim basis. Brooklyn finished the campaign at No. 11 on the Eastern Conference standings with a 32-50 record.

Fernandez has served as the Kings’ assistant for the past two years while also coaching Canada’s national team, with whom he won a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. He previously had a stint as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets and served as the head coach for the G League team Canton Charge.

The Nets considered a number of candidates for their head coaching vacancy, including the former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, but ended up deciding that Fernandez was the best option available.

“We’re thrilled to announce Jordi Fernández as Brooklyn’s new head coach,” said Nets’ general manager Sean Marks in a statement. “As we progressed through an extensive search over the past six weeks, it became increasingly clear that Jordi is the best coach to lead our team forward. Jordi brings a diverse set of experiences and basketball knowledge gained over the course of a coaching career that has taken him around the world.”

The post Brooklyn Nets Hire Kings’ Assistant Jordi Fernandez as New Head Coach appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets are inching closer to finding their new head coach. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that the Nets already have a list of finalists, which includes former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Budenholzer has been fired by the Bucks after an unceremonious end of the 2022–23 season. Milwaukee finished the regular season with the best record in the league but ended up being bounced out of the playoffs in the first round by the eight-seeded Miami Heat.

Budenholzer is well-regarded around the league, considering his track record of success. He got his first NBA head coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks in 2013–14 and led the franchise to five postseason appearances, including two Conference finals, in six seasons.

After taking over the Bucks in 2018–19, Budenholzer made the Conference semifinals in each of his first four seasons and won an NBA title in 2020–21. However, during his time with the franchise, he was often criticized for sticking to his preferred style and not adapting well to opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.

It remains to be seen whether the Nets, who fired head coach Jacque Vaughn in February, will go with a proven name in Budenholzer or pick out an up-and-coming coach. Their list of finalists reportedly also includes Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young and Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez.

The post Ex-Bucks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer Among Finalists for Brooklyn Nets Job appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets have fired their head coach Jacque Vaughn. The move comes after a disappointing first part of the season that saw the Nets compile a 21-33 record, good enough for the 11th spot in the Easter Conference standings.

The Nets elevated assistant Kevin Ollie to serve as the interim head coach. Ollie is expected to finish the season before the franchise embarks on a search for a permanent head coach in the summer.

Vaughn, who played 12 years in the NBA as a point guard, has been part of the Nets’ coaching staff since 2016. He primarily served as an assistant before being hired as the interim head coach early in the 2022-23 season after the firing of Steve Nash. Less than two weeks later, Vaughn got the job on a permanent basis.

As the head coach of the Nets, Vaughn was 71-68, including a short interim stint in 2019–20. He led Brooklyn to playoffs last season, where they were swept by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one we feel is in the best interest of the team going forward,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. “ … 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.”

Kevin Ollie is in his first season as an NBA assistant. He previously served as the head coach of UConn and spent time with Overtime Elite.

The post Brooklyn Nets Fire Head Coach Jacque Vaughn appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After several months of absence, the Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons returned to action in Monday night’s 147-114 win over the Utah Jazz. And it was quite a comeback for Simmons, as he almost put up a triple-double in just 18 minutes on the floor.

Simmons hasn’t played since early November, dealing with a lingering back issue. He started the game against the Jazz on the bench and was on a minutes restriction, but that didn’t stop him from making an immediate impact.

The former All-Star was aggressive on both sides of the ball while setting up his teammates for easy points, especially in the first quarter, which saw him get six assists. Simmons finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists while adding one steal and one block.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Simmons said that he believes he had a successful return, but mainly because his team ended up winning.

“We got the win, so yes,” Simmons said via ESPN. “That’s the main objective for me, and that’s really all I care about.”

If Simmons continues to play this way and manages to stay healthy, he could be a valuable addition to the Nets as they look to turn around their disappointing first half of the 2023-24 season. Brooklyn team has won just three out of their last 10 games and currently sits at No. 10 in the Eastern Conference with a 19-27 record.

The post Nets’ Ben Simmons Makes His Comeback, Has a Near Triple Double in a Win Over Jazz appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons may return from injury as soon as Monday, sources revealed to ESPN. The player has been sidelined for over two and a half months due to a lingering back injury.

Simmons’ lower back nerve impingement has kept him out since November 6. As a result, he has been limited to playing just six games for the Nets this season, averaging a career-low 6.5 points yet a career-high 10.8 rebounds.

Arriving at the Nets in a trade deadline deal in 2022, Simmons was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to back soreness and a subsequent surgery. Last season, he played 42 games, averaging 6.9 points and career lows of 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists. With the Nets dropping to 11 place in the Eastern Conference with a 17-26 record, they’ll be hoping for a career resurgence from Simmons, a three-time All-Star and the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year.

The post Simmons May Return for Brooklyn Nets as Soon as Monday appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets are set to spend at least another two months without Ben Simmons, who is continuing to struggle to recover from a pinched nerve in his lower back. The Nets confirmed that Simmons has shown considerable improvement over the past two weeks but that he continues to do individual court work and that his status will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Simmons has only managed to make six appearances this season while missing 20 games as a result of this injury. His last two seasons have also been heavily disrupted by injuries. As part of his rehabilitation process, Simmons received an epidural injection as part of his rehabilitation process.

Brooklyn has also received some positive news on the injury front, with Lonnie Walker IV expected to progress to 5-on-5 play in the coming days after spending the past eight games on the sideline due to a strained left hamstring strain. The Nets guard is expected to return to the lineup next week.

The post Nets’ Ben Simmons Out for Another Two Months appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons is set to miss another week of action as he continues to battle a pinch in his lower back. The Nets revealed on Wednesday that the 27-year-old player has been steadily improving and returned to doing light individual court work after missing six games to date due to his back issues.

Simmons has suffered three back-related injuries over the past three seasons, forcing him to miss last season’s All-Star break because of a nerve impingement in his lower back. The current nerve impingement, on the other side of his back, was detected during an MRI scan last week after Simmons began to experience discomfort in his bruised left hip. His status will be assessed again in another seven to 10 days.

The Nets received good news as well as Cam Thomas continued to improve from an ankle injury that kept him out for the past five games. Prior to spraining his left ankle on November 8, Thomas was averaging 26.9 points per game. He has been cleared for increased on-court activity and is expected to rejoin team workouts next week.

The post Ben Simmons Out for Another Week With Lower Back Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets’ point guard Ben Simmons is set for yet another spell on the sidelines. The team announced that Simmons is dealing with a nerve impingement in his back and will be out indefinitely.

Simmons has a history of back injuries, which caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 campaign and limited him to just 42 games last season. The 27-year-old player looked on track to bounce back in 2023-24 before the issue resurfaced after the game against the Chicago Bulls in early November.

Simmons, who has now missed four straight games, is averaging 6.5 points and 6.7 assists to go with a career-high 10.8 rebounds this season.

Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Nets’ head coach Jacque Vaughn said he is keeping a positive attitude and hopes Simmons will be cleared to return to action in a week.

“You know, these athletes, they want to play, and they want to contribute. And no athlete wants to be hurt. And this is not something he has asked for, not something that he wants,” said Vaughn. “We were trying at the time to really get our group whole and healthy and form an identity together, and he’s a part of that identity. And Ben has brought an element to our team that is irreplaceable because of the style that he plays with and the things that he helps benefit our team in doing.”

The Nets currently have a winning record, sitting at No.7 in the Eastern Conference. With Simmons out, veteran Spencer Dinwiddie is expected to be the team’s primary ball handler and playmaker while Dennis Smith Jr. might also get a bigger role.

The post Nets’ Ben Simmons Out Indefinitely With Nerve Impingement in His Back appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets player Cam Thomas is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks, the team confirmed. This comes after the guard suffered a left ankle sprain.

Thomas was injured during the third quarter of the Nets’ 100-93 win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night when he stepped on the foot of Clippers forward P.J. Tucker. The 22-year-old underwent an MRI on Thursday that confirmed the extent of his injury.

A first-round pick (27th overall) in the 2021 NBA Draft, Thomas has shown constant improvement each season, proving to be this year’s breakout star for the Nets. Averaging 8.5 points as a rookie and then 10.6 points in 2022-23, Thomas is averaging a team-high 26.9 points over eight games (seven starts) this season.

The post Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas Out for at Least Two Weeks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Brooklyn Nets still haven’t given up on three-time All-Star Ben Simmons despite his struggles since joining the team in 2022. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Nets’ general manager Sean Marks said that he believes Simmons will bounce back and put on a much better display this upcoming season.

According to Marks, Simmons is in a better physical shape than he ever was during his time in Brooklyn, and the Nets plan to “unleash” him when the 2023-24 campaign starts.

“Let’s not dwell on the past, he’s feeling confident about where he is physically,” Marks said. “This is more like, get out here, support him and unleash him. If he’s feeling great, then let him go.”

Simmons landed in Brooklyn midway through the 2021-22 season in a trade that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers. But the move worked out poorly for the Nets so far, as Simmons couldn’t stay healthy and performed poorly when available.

Back injury prevented Simmons from playing a single game for the Nets in 2021-22, and the same issue on top of knee soreness limited him to 42 games last season. The former first-overall pick finished the campaign averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.

The post Nets Plan to “Unleash” Ben Simmons in 2023-24 Says GM Sean Marks appeared first on SportzBonanza.