NBA Shocker: Kings Fire Coach Mike Brown, Fans Stunned

In a move that stunned the basketball world, the Sacramento Kings terminated their head coach Mike Brown on Friday, marking an end to his tenure of nearly three years. This decision was made public just after Brown managed a team practice and interacted with the press, moments before the squad was scheduled to depart for Los Angeles for their upcoming game against the Lakers on Saturday.

The Sacramento Kings just fired Mike Brown right before the team boarded a flight to LA. He just ran a full practice and spent 15 minutes talking to the media.

Just bad man. Bad bad bad.

— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) December 27, 2024

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Doug Christie, the assistant coach, is slated to step in as the interim head coach for the Kings.

The dismissal of Brown comes as a shock particularly because it occurred less than two years after he successfully guided the Kings into the playoffs, breaking a 17-year postseason absence—one of the longest in professional sports history. This achievement earned him the distinction of being the first in NBA history to receive a unanimous vote for Coach of the Year.

Despite missing the playoffs in 2024, the relationship between Brown and the Kings appeared to be positive, underscored by a contract extension he signed just a few months earlier.

The Kings had a rough start to the current season, with a record of 13-18, including 13 losses during crucial moments of games, prompting the management to make a change.

Highlighting the team’s struggles, they had a significant lead against the Detroit Pistons just the night before—up 91-77 in the fourth quarter—only to lose the game. Brown openly criticized star player De’Aaron Fox for his part in the game’s downturn. Brown concluded his stint with the Kings with an overall record of 104-82.

Numerous fans and analysts have expressed disapproval of the Kings’ decision to terminate Brown, labeling him as unfairly made a scapegoat by the franchise.

Kneejerk reaction: This is the wrong move and a bad look for the Kings.

It’s not rocket science that Sacramento’s roster is poorly constructed, lacking the forward depth and versatility needed to compete in the West.

Mike Brown wasn’t perfect. But this franchise doesn’t make…

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) December 27, 2024

Fired MB before we even retooled the roster to fit the way he wants to play. They used him as a scapegoat smh

— KangzMuse (@kings_muse) December 27, 2024

Mike Brown finding out he was fired after he made the Kings relevant again for the first time in 16 years https://t.co/RCSbIf77gU pic.twitter.com/eVVYJmrUIl

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) December 27, 2024

Coaching in the NBA is in a terrible place

If a team does well it has nothing to do with you and if a team underperforms it’s your fault.

Not saying Mike Brown is perfect but it’s Dumb that the guy who helped get em back to the playoffs for 20 years also is the scapegoat

— D.O.C (@DOC323123) December 27, 2024

Kings firing Mike brown is goofy. lol it’s allllllways the coaches fault

— In The Lab (@InTheLabBrand) December 27, 2024

Firing Mike brown legit solves nothing for the kings lmao

— Rico Gates (@TrustSwisho) December 27, 2024

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