Mike Brown’s firing sent shockwaves throughout the NBA’s coaching circles, with many high-profile coaches backing the 54-year-old and the job he’s done while with the Sacramento Kings.
On Friday, it was announced that the Kings were moving on from Brown after the team stumbled to a 13-18 record, losing their last five games, all at home. It was the first time since January 2022 that the Kings lost five straight games, with Sacramento losing 12 of its last 17.
Those around the organization felt the need to dismiss Brown to right the ship before the Kings’ playoff chances fully sank. In doing so, however, the Kings sent the NBA’s coaching fraternity into a frenzy, with many coaches speaking highly of the recently fired Brown.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue said to reporters regarding Brown’s firing. “What’s the difference between 2023 and 2024? It’s like I said, it’s a tough business. And it’s just hard to please everybody. And Mike Brown’s one hell of a coach,” he said.
“One of the most prepared coaches that we’ve had in our game. Like what’s wrong with a coach that comes in every single day prepared … works hard every day to get his team better. And still, it’s just not enough. So it’s hard. And so for me, Mike Brown’s always been a hell of a coach.
“Like I said, he’s always been one of the most prepared coaches I’ve ever seen and talked to as far as preparation. And it’s just crazy that that doesn’t go a long way.” Along with Lue, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters before Golden State’s game against Los Angeles said he was “very disappointed” to hear of Brown’s firing.
“Mike is a great friend, a great coach,” Kerr began. “We all kind of know this is the nature of the business but it just seems so shocking when a guy is the unanimous coach of the year, year and a half ago, and when you think about where that franchise was before Mike got there, where they’ve been the last couple of years, the job that he and his staff have done. It’s just really shocking.”
Brown and Kerr have a lengthy relationship, with the former being an integral part of the coaching staff that helped lead the Warriors to three championships and four NBA Finals appearances, along with spending time with the San Antonio Spurs. The 54-year-old left Golden State to pursue an opportunity in Sacramento, a franchise known for its volatility.
As such, Kerr explained how he is “very fortunate” to work in an organization that “really values” continuity and allows the team to work through its on-court issues rather than firing a coach as a reactionary move. “I know I’m probably the exception rather than the rule when it comes to organizational support and continuity, and it doesn’t mean it’s going to last forever,” Kerr continued.
“It means that I’ve been very lucky to coach here and work for this organizations because it’s not easy. This job, this business, it’s pretty rough, so I feel terribly for Mike today.”
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez also spoke on Brown’s firing before his team took on the Spurs Friday night. Fernandez was a member of Brown’s coaching staff before the 42-year-old headed to the Eastern Conference to try his hand as a head coach.
“He’s, in my opinion, one of the best. I would not be here without him,” Fernandez shared with reporters. “Obviously, to me, it’s really sad news, and I don’t like it. It’s part of the business. Things can go one way, where if you think about it, a year and a half ago, he was Coach of the Year.
“And now this situation happened. … Mike is, like I said, one of the best. And seeing this is something that, as we can all say, is part of the business but me personally, I don’t like it.”
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone heavily criticized how the Kings went about firing Brown as his own experience in Sacramento. In particular, Malone was upset with how the Kings waited until after Brown left for the airport before firing him. “No class, no balls. That’s what I’ll say about that,” Malone concluded.
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