Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn has agreed to an extension that is expected to keep him under contract through the 2026-27 season, sources told ESPN.
The Nets announced the new deal Tuesday for Vaughn, who sources said had a team option on his 2023-24 deal, but did not disclose terms.
Brooklyn has the NBA’s fifth-best record at 32-19 since Vaughn took over for Steve Nash on Nov. 1, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The Nets are 34-24 overall and fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Vaughn has shown himself to be the stabilizing leader the franchise has wanted as coach, and now gets a long-term commitment to carry the Nets through the post-Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving eras in Brooklyn.
“Jacque has made an immediate and immeasurable impact on our entire organization since assuming the role of head coach earlier this season,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement released by the team. “On the court, he’s clearly demonstrated his leadership through his ability to connect and communicate at a very high level while displaying tremendous instincts for the game. As a person, they don’t come any better than Jacque.”
The Nets had a 12-game winning streak from Dec. 7 to Jan. 2 under Vaughn, the second longest by a head coach to take over midseason in NBA history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Former Nets coach Lawrence Frank had a 13-game winning streak during the 2003-2004 season.
Brooklyn moved into second place in the Eastern Conference prior to Durant suffering an MCL sprain in January. Durant never played again for the Nets, requesting and receiving a trade to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 8 — just after Irving was moved to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Nets now will try to keep playoff position built around forwards Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson and center Nic Claxton.
This is Vaughn’s second run as Nets coach. He led them to a 7-3 record in 2020, including a playoff appearance during the restart at World Disney World. Vaughn also spent two-plus seasons as the Orlando Magic‘s coach from 2012 to 2015.