The last few days have been bittersweet for New Jersey Nets reserve point guard Jacque Vaughn.

Vaughn, a 30-year-old Kansas University product, suffered a season-ending foot fracture during the first half of Saturday’s home loss to Orlando.

Three days later, Vaughn’s fortunes flip-flopped when he was named one of six finalists for the NBA Sportsmanship Award that annually goes to the player who best represents the ideals of fair play on the court.

The other finalists are Indiana’s Austin Croshere, Memphis’ Shane Battier, Orlando’s Grant Hill, Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko.

Former NBA players Tom Heinsohn, Eddie Johnson, Steve Mix, Kelly Tripucka and Stu Lantz selected the six divisional winners from a pool of 30 nominees. Each team nominated one of its own players. The winner will be announced after the regular season.

Vaughn learned he was a finalist only hours after having surgery performed on his right foot. Doctors at Hackensack University Medical Center inserted a screw to repair the fifth metatarsal. He is expected to make a full recovery for next season.

“I was playing at a good high level, I thought, and having fun doing it at the same time,” said Vaughn, who vows to return 100 percent, but not until next season. “I don’t foresee any Terrell Owenses,” he said of the Eagles’ receiver who made it back for the Super Bowl. “I’ll be smart. I’m still a young player with many years ahead of me.”

In eight NBA seasons, the 6-foot-1 guard, who was drafted 27th overall by Utah in 1997, has career averages of 5.0 points and 2.7 assists per contest. This season, Vaughn, played in 71 games, averaging 5.3 points and 1.9 assists. In 34 starts, he averaged 5.0 points and 1.7 assists.

“It’s part of basketball. You deal with it and move on,” said Vaughn, who lives in Lawrence during the offseason.

Vaughn was playing in pain when he suffered the injury.

“I had it (against the Knicks two days before), played through it, and I was going to play through it again,” Vaughn said. “It just didn’t let me. It’s just a matter of that bone to break, I guess.”