Sacramento Kings fire coach Mike Brown after disappointing 13:18 start
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Sacramento Kings fire coach Mike Brown after disappointing 13:18 start

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Mike Brown of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on November 10, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Kings defeated the Suns in overtime 127-118. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)

Mike Brown only coached the Sacramento Kings for two full seasons. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Mike Brown. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday.

Sacramento is currently on a five-game losing streak and has lost 12 of its last 17 games. At 13-18, the Kings are in last place in the Pacific Division and 12th in the Western Conference.

According to multiple reports, assistant coach Doug Christie will be named interim coach. The team continues its season on Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

On Thursday night, the Kings suffered a one-point loss to the 14-17 Detroit Pistons with a four-point game in the final seconds of the game. According to ABC10’s Matt GeorgeBrown was released after track practice and a meeting with the media just before the team boarded a flight to Los Angeles for the game against the Lakers on Saturday night.

“I’ve been through a lot in this business, I’ve been through a lot more good times than bad, but I’ve been through some bad times too.” Brown told reporters Friday. “I’ve been lucky, blessed… to be around great players and great coaches, and the crazy thing is I’ve been around coaches who have won titles. And they’ve got a lot of smoke to face if their little plight isn’t big.

Brown, 54, was named Coach of the Year in 2023 and signed a three-year extension with the team through the 2026-27 season in June.

Before he agreed to the extension, the Kings and Brown disagreed about the average annual salary in a new contract, and it appeared he would let his contract expire after this season. His subsequent contract placed him in the top eight head coaching salaries in the league at $8.5 million per year. He finished Sacramento with a 107–88 record and a first-round playoff series.

Brown was previously the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-10 and 2013-14) and the Lakers (2011-12). His overall record is 454-304.

Prior to his first head coaching position, Brown worked as an assistant for eight seasons with the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. He was on the staff of four NBA championship teams, one with the Spurs and three with the Warriors.

Christie joined the Kings coaching staff for the 2021-22 season as an assistant under Alvin Gentry. He has served as an analyst for the team’s television broadcasts for the past three seasons. Of his 15 seasons in the NBA, Christie played five seasons with the Kings. He also played for the Lakers, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers.

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