Earlier this week, Jacque Vaughn was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month, a fait accompli after he guided the Nets to a 12-1 mark in December. Now it’s time to start considering him for NBA Coach of the Year.

It’s not so far-fetched.

Vaughn took over midstream, trying to steer a ship that had sprung numerous leaks. The dysfunctional Nets were 2-5, in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, and dealing with the controversy around Kyrie Irving, who was about to get suspended by the team. Since replacing Steve Nash on Nov. 1, Vaughn has instilled a no-nonsense, basketball-first culture and gone 24-8 including Friday night’s 108-102 win over to the Pelicans.

Going into the weekend, Vaughn was the second favorite to win Coach of the Year, behind the Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla, at roughly 3-1 odds. And with all the Nets have overcome, his players say the question isn’t how can he be a leading candidate, but how can he not be one?