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The Nets on Sunday announced that assistant coach Tony Brown would become interim head coach of the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the season. However, nothing was reported on the status of respected assistant to Lionel Hollins, Paul Westphal.
Ironically enough, it was Westphal's wife, Cindy, who first hinted what was going on with this tweet just before anything broke about Hollins and King:
When perception is treated like reality by those who know better, the wrong person usually gets the blame.
— Cindy Westphal (@GrammyWeeze) January 10, 2016
Then, Sunday night on Westphal's FaceBook fan page, Cindy posted a few paragraphs explaining that Paul would not be back with the Nets, essentially stating that his loyalty to Lionel Hollins is simply too strong.
JANUARY 10, 2016 ~ "It's ironic that I made my first regular season basket as a player in Detroit, and was just there...
Posted by Paul Westphal on Sunday, January 10, 2016
She again left little to the imagination about the situation, 'Like Paul always says, "You can't win without the horses." Wishing the best for Tony Brown who will be getting his first head coaching opportunity. May he get the *horses* he needs.'
Westphal, 65, was said to have no desire to coach again until Lionel Hollins approached him to be his top guy with the Nets. Westphal, a former player and head coach for the Sonics, Kings and Suns, told Tim Bontemps back in October of 2014 that he "wasn't desperate to go find a situation" but "definitely wouldn't have said no to Lionel."
Loyalty is something that's hard to come by nowadays, and for someone like Paul Westphal, you can only wish the best. It appears his long days close to the professional game are over.
For old time's sake.... pic.twitter.com/o9PNWl9YFC
— Cindy Westphal (@GrammyWeeze) January 10, 2016