Kings Axe Coach Mike Brown After Disappointing 13-18 NBA Start!

Less than two years after earning the title of NBA’s Coach of the Year, it appears that the Sacramento Kings have decided to let go of coach Mike Brown.

Reports emerging on a Friday afternoon from Shams Charania of ESPN indicate that Mike Brown is being released from his duties with the Kings effective immediately.

At 54 years old, Brown has spent the previous three seasons with the Kings. In 2023, he played a pivotal role in reinvigorating the team, guiding them to a 48-34 season—their most successful since 2005. This achievement also ended a 17-year absence from the playoffs, although they were eliminated in the first round by the Golden State Warriors after seven games.

This season, however, the Kings have found themselves struggling significantly, holding a 13-18 record. They currently sit three games behind the Warriors in the contest for the final Western Conference play-in position.

The decision to dismiss Brown came following a painful 114-113 home loss to the Detroit Pistons, marking the team’s fifth consecutive defeat. In the dying moments of the game, despite leading by three points, Sacramento saw victory slip through their fingers as Jaden Ivey scored a critical and-1 three-pointer and secured the win with a successful free throw at the Golden 1 Center.

Following the loss, Brown openly criticized his team’s execution, specifically noting that the plan for the last possession was to commit a foul on the floor if possible.

Throughout his career, Brown has been a four-time NBA champion as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors and has previously led teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year in 2009 after leading the Cavaliers to a franchise-best 66-16 record.

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