Avery Johnson was fired by the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, just 28 games into the 2012-2013 NBA season. The Nets are currently 14-14 under Avery’s tenure, the best record the team has had to start a season under his tutelage. In 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, the Nets were just 8-20 to start the season. However, the Nets have spent an increasing amount of money to pick up talented players as team owner Mikhail Prokhorov pushed harder for at least a conference championship.
The Nets started the season with an 11-4 record but quickly dropped seven of their last 10 games after starting center Brook Lopez was lost to injury.
Brooklyn has also suffered at the hands of both Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, who have struggled to work together, which in turn has affected their ability to rack up points.
Williams went so far as to complain about Avery Johnson’s ecosystem. Williams, however, is no stranger to pushing out coaches, having been rumored to push out Jerry Sloan when he was with the Utah Jazz. Sloan had coached the Jazz for 23 years before resigning in 2011.
It has not been confirmed that Deron Williams had a direct part in Avery Johnson’s firing, but, given his past, many analysts believe it is highly likely.
Twenty-four days before Avery Johnson was fired, he was named the November Coach of the Month.
Serving as interim head coach for the Brooklyn Nets will be P.J. Carlesimo.
With Avery Johnson out and the Brooklyn Nets spending some serious cash to become a contender, we expect the Phil Jackson coaching rumors to start immediately.
