Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone teed off on the Sacramento Kings’ decision to fire head coach Mike Brown Friday, taking shots at both the organization and team governor Vivek Ranadive.
“I’m not surprised that Mike Brown got fired, because I got fired by the same person,” Malone said. “And what really pissed me off about it was the fact that they lost [Thursday] night, fifth game in a row, I believe. Tough loss. … They had practiced this morning. He does his postgame media, and he’s in his car going to the airport to fly to L.A. and they call him on the phone.
“No class, no balls. That’s what I’ll say about that.”
Malone was hired by Ranadive and the Kings in the summer of 2013 and then fired in December 2014. He has since gone on to have tremendous success with Denver, memorably winning an NBA championship in 2023.
Other Coaches Share Malone’s Frustration
Long-time NBA head coach Rick Carlisle, currently with the Indiana Pacers, found the decision “shocking.”
“I had the privilege of working with Mike when I was in Indiana coaching the first time,” Carlisle said. “I view him as one of the standard bearers for integrity for our profession. And I’m just absolutely shocked that that decision was made.
“He’ll certainly land on his feet. But if you look at the job that he did and the turnaround that he had, it’s just really hard to believe that this decision was made. But teams have the right to do things like this, obviously. It’s their decision. But Mike’s a great man and a great basketball man. Really one of the pillars of our profession. Anyway. Onward.”
Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley considers Brown both a friend and a mentor and was also supportive in his message.
“He compiled a record of 107-88 while he was there,” Mosley said. “He changed a bit of that culture in what he was doing. And I say these things not as a fellow coach. I say this as a close friend. He’s been a mentor of mine. And I know how good he is, and I know how he cares, and I know how he’s helped pave the way for so many of us that are in this game right now.”
Kings On Shaky Ground
As Doug Christie steps in to be the interim head coach without any previous NBA head coaching experience and De’Aaron Fox possibly disgruntled, Sacramento is facing a tall task to remain relevant in the Western Conference.
At 13-18, the Kings have lost five straight to fall to 12th in the West and are three games behind the Golden State Warriors for the final Play-In Tournament spot.
It was only a couple seasons ago that Sacramento looked like on of the rising forces in the West with the league’s best offense led by Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Barring a major turnaround, significant changes could be coming by the summer, if not the trade deadline.
