Brooklyn Nets Fire Head Coach Lionel Hollins And GM Billy King

The Brooklyn Nets have not played to expectations because of a weak player roster and poor performance, earning their worst start to a season since moving to Brooklyn from New Jersey. The team fired head coach Lionel Hollins and reassigned general manager Billy King yesterday in hopes of moving on for the future.

Since the beginning of the season, the Nets have a team record of 10-27, including losing nine straight home games in a row and losing four straight overall games. Assistant coach Tony Brown will serve as interim head coach and King’s replacement will remain open until someone is hired. King’s role will be aiding the team’s search of finding a new general manager to take his place. “It’s clear from our current state of affairs that we need new leadership,” owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a statement. “With the right basketball management and coach in place, we are going to create a winning culture and identity and give Brooklyn a team that it can be proud of and enjoy watching.”

Hollins stated that he received the news from King through a phone call yesterday morning. “I’m thankful to Billy and Mikhail and Dmitry [Razumov, Nets board of directors chairman] for the opportunity to have coached the Nets,” Hollins told ESPN.com’s Mike Mazzeo. “I’m disappointed to where it didn’t work out to where we didn’t have playoff success and fans weren’t celebrating in the streets of Brooklyn.” Hollins has 1½ seasons left on his contract while King only has one season left.

Hollins’ coaching record was 48-71 for his tenure with the Nets, including a No. 8 seed playoff berth in the Eastern Conference last season. King was known for bringing in high-profile players after Prokhorov purchased the team in 2010 and asked for a championship within five years. All that is left of those blockbuster trades is current team captain Joe Johnson after team budgets were cut and their competitive stature has diminished but Prokhorov has promised fans that there is light at the end of the tunnel. “We have learned a great deal during the past six years and our experiences will guide us for the future,” Prokhorov said.

PHOTO: NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Head coach Lionel Hollins of the Brooklyn Nets walks near his bech in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks during game six in the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on May 1, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)