NBA News: Brooklyn Nets fire head coach Lionel Hollins and reassign GM Billy King
Going through a disastrous season, Brooklyn Nets have decided to part ways with their head coach Lionel Hollins and have reassigned general manager Billy King to another position.
Assistant coach Tony Brown will serve as the interim head coach until the Nets rope in someone new and the GM position will remain vacant until a new person is hired, as reported by NBA.com.
The attendance at the Barclays Centre has also been at an all-time low owing to the Nets’ current struggles this season. After relocating since the 2012-13 season, the Nets have made the playoffs every year but are currently on the way to a lottery appearance this season.
Billy King, who is the GM of the Nets since 2010, had roped in many high-profile names during his reign. However, it led to just one playoff series victory. Meanwhile, Hollins was serving as the head coach for the second year before getting sacked.
“It’s clear from our current state of affairs that we need new leadership. With the right basketball management and coach in place, we are going to create a winning culture and identity,” Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of the Nets said, according to NBA.com.
Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Joe Johnson were part of the blockbuster acquisitions that King made during his time as the GM. The signings were made as a part of the plan for Prokhorov who wanted to win a championship within five years of buying the franchise.
Of the four names, only Johnson remains as part of the current roster as the Nets let go of the other three players, via free agency or trades, and restart their rebuilding process. With big man Brook Lopez as the lone star in the lineup, the Nets have not been as competitive like in previous seasons.
“At every step of the way, he has been aggressive in his quest to build a winning team and has been a key factor toward the Nets making the playoffs for each of the last three seasons,” Prokhorov added on King.
Hollins, who had a record of 48 wins against 71 losses with the Nets, took over the coaching in Brooklyn after the likes of Jason Kidd, Avery Johnson and P.J. Carlesimo.
