Sacramento Kings Fire NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown After Five-Game Losing Streak, Doug Christie Named Interim Coach

Dec 28, 2024, 01:04 AM

The Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Mike Brown amid a challenging season, with the team holding a 13-18 record and currently in 12th place in the Western Conference. Brown, who was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading the Kings to their first playoff appearance since 2006, was dismissed following a five-game losing streak. The decision came just over six months after Brown signed a three-year extension with the team. The firing was announced after Brown had led a practice session and spoken to the media, and he was informed of his dismissal while en route to the airport for a game against the Lakers. Assistant coach Doug Christie has been appointed as the interim head coach. The move has drawn criticism from several NBA coaches, including Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who called the Kings' handling of the situation 'no class, no balls.' Malone, who was also fired by the Kings in 2014, expressed his disappointment over the timing and manner of Brown's dismissal.