‘Part of the deal’: Sacramento Kings players talk about Mike Brown firing before Lakers game

Updated: December 28, 2024, 7:57 p.m. PST

ITS THIRD SEASON. This comes as the team plays the Lakers in Los Angeles tonight. KCRA 3’S MICHELLE DAPPER IS LIVE IN LA GIVING US A PREVIEW OF TODAY’S GAME. YES. Good evening CECIL. WE’RE LIVE OUTSIDE THE CRYPTO.COM ARENA WHERE THE SACRAMENTO KINGS ARE GETTING READY AGAIN TO TAKE ON THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS. JUST OVER 24 HOURS AGO, THE FRANCHISE FIRED HEAD COACH MIKE BROWN, BUT THE TEAM ARRIVED IN LOS ANGELES YESTERDAY. AND WHILE THIS IS THE SCENE OF THIS MORNING’S TEAM AS THEY TRAINED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE GALEN CENTER UNDER THE DIRECTION OF INTERIM HEAD COACH DOUG CHRISTIE, THE PLAYERS SAY THERE IS A DIFFERENT VIBE IN THE TEAM TODAY. They also said the plan going forward is to simplify some things on offense while playing fast, and Doug Christie really wants to put the emphasis on defense. As for firing head coach Mike Brown, unfortunately that’s the nature of business and the NBA. I mean, obviously you know we all know what job we have. You know, at any time you could be traded, released, cut, fired, whatever it may be. I mean, I wouldn’t use the word guilt, but you know, that’s the nature of the job that we have. But I mean, when he signed his contract extension this summer, we obviously felt like we were going to be together for a lot longer. But that’s the decision they made. But at the end of the day, you know, he still gets paid, you know, a big part of being an NBA player and being an NBA coach is that things like this can happen. BUT HIS CONTRACT IS GUARANTEED. SO AND HE TRUSTED ME IN MY CAREER. You know he put me in a position to be successful and gave me a lot of confidence, you know. AND HE HELPED ME DESIGN MY CAREER. YOU KNOW IN THE NBA. AND YOU KNOW IT’S JUST PART OF THE BUSINESS. You know things happen like that. To be honest, I had no idea I was sleeping when this happened. I tried to rest and was woken up by the news. The energy that he brought, the passion that he had for the game, the passion that he had for just being on the basketball court, being around the game. Yes, that’s where I got the most from it. He never took anything for granted. AND YES, THANKS MIKE. THANKS MIKE. IN FACT. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE KINGS BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS. As for tonight, we hear that interim head coach Doug Christie will be joining us tonight at 6:00 p.m. BUT HERE IN THE CRYPTO.COM ARENA IT’S KINGS AND LAKERS AGAIN. TIP FOR 730 TONIGHT. AS THE KINGS ARE GOING FOR THEIR FIRST-EVER VICTORY OVER THE LAKERS THIS SEASON, THEY CURRENTLY STAND AT ZERO AND THREE. We’ll see if they can get the win tonight.

‘Part of the deal’: Sacramento Kings players talk about Mike Brown firing before Lakers game

Updated: December 28, 2024, 7:57 p.m. PST

Although the Sacramento Kings’ surprise move to fire head coach Mike Brown came just a day ago, the players still have a game tonight. KCRA 3’s Michelle Dapper traveled to Los Angeles on Saturday to talk to players ahead of a crucial game against the Lakers. The team commented on the release of Brown, who helped end a 16-year playoff drought in Sacramento during the 2022-23 season. “We all know the job we have. They can be traded, released, fired or whatever it may be at any time,” De’Aaron Fox said. “I wouldn’t use the word guilt. After he signed his contract extension this summer, we obviously thought we would stay together for a lot longer, but that’s the decision they made. At the end of the day he still gets paid, that’s the great thing.” Part of . Domantas Sabonis said he was sleeping when news of Brown’s firing broke. “He put me in a position to be successful and gave me a lot of confidence. He helped me in my career,” Sabonis said. “It’s just part of the business, things happen that way.” Malik Monk thanked Brown, the unanimous 2023 Coach of the Year. “The energy he brought, the passion he had for the game… that’s what I have the most taken from him,” Monk said. “He never took anything for granted. Thanks, Mike.” The Kings will try to end a five-game losing streak against the Lakers on Saturday under the direction of interim head coach Doug Christie, a longtime assistant coach and former player with the team. Christie intends to keep the tempo up on offense, but also wants to implement tweaks to make things easier, Fox said.

LOS ANGELES –

Although the Sacramento Kings’ surprise move to fire head coach Mike Brown came just a day ago, the players still have a game tonight.

KCRA 3’s Michelle Dapper traveled to Los Angeles on Saturday to talk to players ahead of a crucial game against the Lakers. The team commented on the release of Brown, who helped end a 16-year playoff drought in Sacramento during the 2022-23 season.

“We all know the job we have (in the NBA), you can get traded, released, fired or whatever it may be at any time,” De’Aaron Fox said. “I wouldn’t use the word guilt. After he signed his contract extension this summer, we obviously thought we would stay together for a lot longer, but that’s the decision they made. At the end of the day he’s still getting paid, that’s the great thing about (being in the NBA).”

Domantas Sabonis said he was sleeping when news of Brown’s firing broke.

“He put me in a position to be successful and gave me a lot of confidence. He helped me in my career,” Sabonis said. “It’s just part of the business, things happen that way.”

Malik Monk thanked Brown, the unanimous 2023 Coach of the Year.

“The energy he brought, the passion he had for the game… that’s what I took most from him,” Monk said. “He never took anything for granted. Thanks, Mike.”

The Kings will look to end a five-game losing streak against the Lakers on Saturday under the leadership of interim head coach Doug Christie, a longtime assistant coach and former player with the team.

Christie intends to keep the tempo up on offense, but also wants to implement tweaks to make things easier, Fox said.