Mike Brown was fired as head coach of the Sacramento Kings on Friday, just 31 games into his third season (with a 13-18 record) and six months after signing a three-year contract extension.
Several of Brown’s teammates had ideas to share when reporters asked them for their reactions. Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone was particularly frank and been fired by the Kings just 24 games into his second season as head coach in 2015.
“I’m not surprised they fired Mike Brown, because I was fired by the same person,” Malone said, presumably referring to Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé.
Malone said he was initially surprised, but then not, by the harsh reality of being an NBA head coach. Success is attributed to the players, while failure is ultimately attributed to the coach.
“No class, no balls,” he added, citing that the Kings fired Brown over the phone while he was driving to the airport. “That’s what I’ll say about it.”
Steve Kerr, who played with Brown while he was an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, took a subtle shot at the Kings while praising the front office under which he coaches with the Golden State Warriors.
“I know they’ve been through tough times, but this is the NBA. We all go through tough times,” Kerr said. via reporter Mark Medina. “I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that really values continuity and that allows our team and our staff, our group, to get through difficult times.”
Jordi Fernández on the Kings’ firing of Mike Brown: “He’s very good at what he does. In my opinion, one of the best. I wouldn’t be here without him. It’s sad news. I don’t like. It’s part of the business. He has been Coach of the Year for a year and a half and now this situation happens” pic.twitter.com/KQEGb1SZcz
– Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 27, 2024
Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez was Malone’s assistant in Denver and the Kings’ associate head coach for the past two seasons before becoming head coach.
“He’s very good at what he does. In my opinion, one of the best,” Fernandez said before Friday’s game against the Spurs. via Michael Scotto. “I wouldn’t be here without him. It’s sad news. I don’t like it. It’s part of the business. A year and a half ago, he was the Coach of the Year and now this situation happens.”
As Fernandez noted, Brown earned NBA Coach of the Year honors for guiding the Kings to a 48-34 record and a playoff berth. (It was the second time he won the award). Overall, he finished with a 107–88 record in Sacramento.
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was surprised that the Sacramento Kings fired Mike Brown:
“Mike Brown’s firing today was simply shocking to me… I see him as one of the standard bearers for the integrity of our profession, and I am absolutely shocked.” pic.twitter.com/7UN07chApU
—Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) December 27, 2024
Before his team’s game against the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle expressed his support for his former assistant. Brown was on the Carlisle Pacers staff during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.
“It was just shocking to me,” Carlisle told reporters. via Daniel Donabedian of ClutchPoints. “I had the privilege of working with Mike when I was at Indiana as a head coach for the first time. I view him as one of the standard bearers for the integrity of our profession.
“I’m absolutely shocked that decision was made,” he added. “He will certainly bounce back. If you look at the work he did and the turnaround they had, it’s really hard to believe.”
Brown helped engineer an 18-game turnaround in his first season, going from 30-52 under Luke Walton and interim coach Alvin Gentry to a 48-34 record and a first-place finish in the Pacific Division.