Michael Malone had choice words for the Sacramento Kings after the organization fired Mike Brown after a less-than-stellar start to the 2024-25 NBA season.
Brown was dismissed just hours after the Kings’ heartbreaking loss to the Pistons after giving up a four-point play to Jaden Ivey, which propelled Detroit to a win and dropped Sacramento to 13-18. As the team prepared to head to Los Angeles on Friday for a matchup with the Lakers on Saturday, hoping to snap their five-game losing streak, it was reported that Brown was fired on the way to the airport.
Before the Denver Nuggets’ clash with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Malone discussed Brown’s firing and criticized how the Kings handled the situation. The head coach also explained that he had a similar experience when he was at the helm of the Kings from 2013 to 2014.
“We’re going into a meeting this afternoon, and … I’m not on social media,” Malone told reporters. “I go into the meeting, and the coaches say, ‘You hear about Mike Brown?’ I said, ‘Why, what happened?’ They said he got fired. At first, I was really shocked and surprised. Then I caught myself. I said, ‘Why am I shocked and surprised?’
“[I’m not] for two reasons. One, because as an NBA head coach, ultimately, you’re gonna get to blame. When they win, it’s gonna go to [Domantas] Sabonis and [De’Aaron] Fox, and when you lose, it’s gonna go to Mike Brown. That’s the way it works.”
Along with stating that Brown often takes the blame as the head coach, Malone also aimed Kings owner Vivek Ranadive. The 53-year-old claimed Ranadive called to get Brown fired, as Malone was also fired by the Kings owner in 2014 after amassing an 11-13 record through 24 games.
“And two, who he works for,” Malone continued. “So I’m not surprised that Mike Brown got fired because I got fired by the same person. And what really pissed me off about it was the fact that they lost last night, fifth game in a row, I believe. Tough loss, fouling a jump shooter. They had practiced this morning. He does his postgame media, and he’s in his car going to the airport to fly to LA, and they call him on the phone. No class, no balls. That’s what I’ll say about that.”
With Brown out, Doug Christie, who has been on the coaching staff since the 2021-22 season, is expected to be the Kings’ interim coach. The Kings currently rank 12th in the Western Conference, three games behind the Golden State Warriors for the 10th seed. Brown, 54, acknowledged that any criticism of the team’s performance should be directed at him.
Speaking to reporters just minutes before he was fired, Brown claimed that he was paid handsomely to absorb the criticism. “And I’m OK with anybody criticizing me because, again, I get paid to handle that. I get paid to get us through this,” Brown said. “And you just always remember that as you go forward, because you know who’s truly in the foxhole with you and who’s not. But at the lead, I’m going to handle all the smoke, no matter where that smoke comes from, because that’s what I’m paid to do.”
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