ORLANDO, Fla. — Just under two years ago, Rick Carlisle praised Mike Brown for a remarkable season that earned him the NBA coach of the year accolade. However, the tides have turned, and on Friday, Carlisle joined other coaches in expressing shock and disappointment over Brown’s dismissal as head coach of the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings let go of Brown after a challenging start to the season, with a record of 13-18 placing them near the bottom of the Western Conference. This is particularly surprising given that Brown guided the team to consecutive winning seasons, a feat the franchise hadn’t achieved in almost twenty years. “The firing of Mike Brown today was just shocking to me and I’m sure to all those in our profession,” remarked Carlisle, the Indiana Pacers’ coach and the long-time head of the National Basketball Coaches Association. He added, “I consider him a standard bearer for integrity in our field, and I’m absolutely shocked by this decision.”
Carlisle’s sentiments echoed those of Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who was also fired by Kings owner Vivek Ranadive back in 2014. Malone criticized the decision, stating it lacked “class.” He elaborated, “As an NBA head coach, you are placed at the forefront of wins and losses. If they win, credit goes to the players; if they lose, it falls on the head coach.”
Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley recognized the harsh realities of coaching, especially when teams underperform. Though he declined to comment on another team’s internal decisions, he praised Brown’s contributions. “He compiled a record of 107-88 during his tenure. He changed the culture. I’m voicing this as a close friend and as someone who has learned a lot from him. He genuinely cares and has paved the way for many of us in this industry.”
During the 2022-2023 season, Brown was a unanimous choice for the NBA’s coach of the year, propelling the Kings to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. It is quite a turn of events to see him depart less than two years later. New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, also a two-time NBA coach of the year, expressed his regret over the situation. “You hate to see it. Mike’s an amazing person and coach, and it’s unfortunate,” he stated.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the Kings’ struggle but shared his discontent about Brown’s exit. Speaking on the nature of NBA coaching, he said, “Even though we understand it’s part of the business, it’s tough to process, especially considering how recent his accolades were. It’s shocking when you consider where the franchise was before he took over.”
The change in Sacramento marks the ninth coaching change in the NBA in just 2024 and adds to the total of 300 head-coaching transitions since Gregg Popovich took on his role as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs in 1996. Popovich is currently taking time off for recovery after a stroke.
Over the years, Brown has held multiple coaching positions, from stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers, and until now, Sacramento. Carlisle concluded his thoughts by stating that while Brown will certainly find another opportunity, the decision to fire him was hard to fathom. “It’s tough to understand this choice; it’s certainly the teams’ prerogative. But Mike is a remarkable man and immensely respected in our profession.”
