Photo: Brooklyn Nets/X

Cam Thomas, a key figure for the Brooklyn Nets, has responded to the recent decision to relieve Jacque Vaughn of his duties as head coach.

Expressing his initial disbelief, Thomas revealed that the news of Vaughn’s firing felt surreal, reminiscent of a prank, before receiving confirmation from general manager Sean Marks.

Acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, Thomas expressed empathy for Vaughn, emphasizing the unfortunate nature of seeing someone lose their job.

“I thought it was like a prank or something, then Sean [Marks] called and informed me. It’s unfortunate… You don’t wanna see nobody lose their job at the end of the day. It’s tough,” Thomas said, per Erik Slater.

Vaughn assumed the role of interim head coach for the Nets on November 1, 2022, following the departure of Steve Nash, before being officially named the head coach on November 9 of the same year.

The Nets showed faith in Vaughn’s leadership, extending his contract on February 21, 2023, as they aimed to solidify their coaching staff.

However, with the team struggling this season, occupying 11th place in the Eastern Conference with a 21–33 record, the organization made the decision to part ways with Vaughn.

The firing of Vaughn marks a significant change for the Nets, who are now tasked with navigating the remainder of the season under new leadership.