The Sacramento Kings made headlines earlier this season by parting ways with head coach Mike Brown after a disappointing 13-18 start, despite having a roster loaded with talent. Brown, who won NBA Coach of the Year just two seasons ago, was let go amidst reports of tension within the locker room and disagreements over player roles.
One of the more shocking revelations from the aftermath of his firing was his alleged suggestion that DeMar DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, should come off the bench, as per Lou Williams who was speaking on ‘Run It Back TV’ show.
“But from what I understand, it just ran its course very fast and surprisingly. You know, this was a team who we all had and still have high hopes for, and they fell short of those expectations under his leadership.”
“And that happens, and that’s no slight to his pedigree as a coach. You know, players get traded for a lack of a fit, coaches aren’t immune to that.”
“You know, so I’m hearing there was just some pushback from how De’Aaron Fox was continuously being singled out, you know, whether it was publicly or behind the scenes, where the players just didn’t agree with that sentiment.”
“I was even hearing whispers that there was a situation where he might have asked or suggested that even DeMar DeRozan come off the bench, and those things proved to be severe missteps in an already challenging season, where it put the front office in a position where they had to side with either the All-Star talent they had or depart ways with their former coach of the year who had a brand-new three-year extension.”
“Ultimately, they chose to go with the players, and that made Mike Brown a casualty of that. Could they have handled it differently the way that he was fired? That’s not my call to make.”
“A lot of coaches and a lot of different people are coming out in support of how it was handled, but this is just a classic example of a coach losing the locker room and not being on the same page with his players. And at the end of the day, the players were who management chose to side with.”
DeRozan, known for his scoring ability and leadership, has consistently been a starter throughout his illustrious career. The idea of relegating him to a bench role likely did not sit well with the veteran forward or his teammates, especially given the Kings’ struggles early in the season.
Brown’s decision-making, including his public criticism of star point guard De’Aaron Fox, created further rifts within the team. Reports suggest that Fox felt singled out, both publicly and privately, which eroded his trust in Brown’s leadership.
The situation put the Kings’ front office in a difficult position: side with their star players or back their coach. Ultimately, the franchise chose to support its All-Star talent, opting to dismiss Brown despite having recently extended his contract for three more years.
Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors, and Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone both expressed their support for Brown after his firing. They praised his coaching pedigree and professionalism, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of coaching in the NBA. Fox, while acknowledging his surprise at the decision, stated that he did not feel “guilty” about the firing, instead pointing to the nature of professional sports as a business.
Brown’s tenure with the Kings will be remembered as a tale of unfulfilled expectations and mismatched chemistry. The team’s stacked roster, featuring Fox, DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, was expected to contend for a top playoff spot in the Western Conference. Instead, inconsistent performances and off-court tensions derailed their season early.
For Brown, the fallout from the decision to potentially move DeRozan to the bench underscores the fine line NBA coaches must walk when making adjustments. The Kings’ front office made their choice clear: player harmony and talent retention took precedence over coaching continuity. As the team looks to regroup under interim coach Doug Christie, Brown’s firing serves as a reminder of how quickly circumstances can shift in the NBA.
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