NBA World in Disbelief After Shocking Firing of Kings Coach Mike Brown

Many fans have dubbed Brown as the Kings' 'scapegoat.'

Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown / Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

The Sacramento Kings sent shockwaves throughout the NBA when they fired head coach Mike Brown on Friday after less than three seasons with the team. The firing came shortly after Brown held a practice with the Kings and spoke to the media, but right before their flight to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Saturday.

The Sacramento Kings just fired Mike Brown right before the team boarded a flight to LA. He just ran a full practice and spent 15 minutes talking to the media.

Just bad man. Bad bad bad.

— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) December 27, 2024

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, assistant coach Doug Christie is expected to take over for the Kings as interim head coach.

The timing of Brown’s firing is perhaps the most surprising, as it takes place less than two years after he led the Kings back to the postseason for the first time in 17 years, ending one of the longest postseason droughts in all of sports. The feat helped him become the first man in league history to be unanimously voted NBA Coach of the Year.

While the Kings did miss the playoffs in 2024, things still seemed to be going pretty well between Brown and the team, with Brown signing an extension just a few months ago.

Sacramento began the current season 13-18—including 13 losses in "clutch time" this season—and the front office decided to move on.

Notably, the Kings held a 91-77 lead in the fourth quarter against the 14-17 Detroit Pistons on Thursday before imploding in a loss, and Brown seemed to call out De'Aaron Fox for his role in the collapse. He leaves the franchise with an overall record of 104-82.

Several NBA and Kings fans have called out the organization's decision to fire Brown, calling him the team's "scapegoat."

Kneejerk reaction: This is the wrong move and a bad look for the Kings.

It's not rocket science that Sacramento's roster is poorly constructed, lacking the forward depth and versatility needed to compete in the West.

Mike Brown wasn't perfect. But this franchise doesn't make…

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) December 27, 2024

Fired MB before we even retooled the roster to fit the way he wants to play. They used him as a scapegoat smh

— KangzMuse (@kings_muse) December 27, 2024

Mike Brown finding out he was fired after he made the Kings relevant again for the first time in 16 years https://t.co/RCSbIf77gU pic.twitter.com/eVVYJmrUIl

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) December 27, 2024

Coaching in the NBA is in a terrible place

If a team does well it has nothing to do with you and if a team underperforms it’s your fault.

Not saying Mike Brown is perfect but it’s Dumb that the guy who helped get em back to the playoffs for 20 years also is the scapegoat

— D.O.C (@DOC323123) December 27, 2024

Kings firing Mike brown is goofy. lol it’s allllllways the coaches fault

— In The Lab (@InTheLabBrand) December 27, 2024

Firing Mike brown legit solves nothing for the kings lmao

— Rico Gates (@TrustSwisho) December 27, 2024

---

More of the Latest Around the NBA

feed