The NBA coaching carousel has started spinning a little earlier than usual in 2024.
On Friday, ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported that the Kings were moving on from head coach Mike Brown less than 24 hours after the Kings’ 114-113 home loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Sacramento has had a tough start to the season as they’re in the middle of a 5-game losing streak and sit at 13-16 overall, including a 6-12 record at home. But Brown is coming off two straight winning season including a Coach of the Year performance (his second) in the 2022-23 season, his first with the Kings. That year also marked the end of a 16-season NBA Playoffs drought.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Kings’ decision to fire Brown.
Why did the Kings fire Brown?
Although it’s early in the season, the Kings’ disastrous start to the 2024-25 season left ownership searching for answers, especially of late. Sacramento started out the season consistently staying above -.500 until mid-November. The Kings fell to 9-12 on Dec. 1, and lost six out of their last 10 games. Currently, Sacramento is 13-18 and 12th in the Western Conference.
According to various reports, Sacramento’s home record may be a big reason.
Say what you want about Vivek, he just ate 30 plus million to try and right the ship.
Mike Brown may in fact be the unnecessary scapegoat, but you don’t lose games like that at home with these expectations and survive.
You knew it was coming, and you pretty much knew if they…
— Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) December 27, 2024
Sacramento lost 114-113 to the Pistons the night before Brown was fired. As Detriot trailed by three, Jaden Ivey hit a three-pointer and was fouled by Kings guard De’Aaron Fox. Ivey hit the free throw to give Detroit the win, capping off a 19-point rally in the second half. After the game, Brown appeared to call out Fox postgame, albeit not by name:
Mike Brown got himself fired after he threw De’Aaron Fox under the bus after the loss last night. pic.twitter.com/FJOZPko6DL
— Mink Flow (@currypistonn) December 27, 2024
On Friday, this video of Brown and Fox made the rounds on social media and had many speculating this was the two saying goodbye, which was apparently taken shortly before Brown’s firing:
This moment between Kings head coach Mike Brown and De’Aaron Fox at today’s practice will certainly be dissected and analyzed. pic.twitter.com/x6dYwZ1zf8
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) December 27, 2024
The Kings opened the season with +3500 odds to win the NBA Championship. But with stars like Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings seemingly had a shot to at least make it to the playoffs.
Brown led the Kings to the first-round of the playoffs for the first time since 2006 in the 2022-23 season. Sacramento surprisingly went up 2-0 in the series against Golden State, but ultimately lost in seven games.
Sacramento is no stranger to cycling through coaches. Since Rick Adelman was the head coach from 1998-2006, there have been zero Kings coaches who have lasted longer than three seasons. Sacramento has hired 10 coaches since 2006.
Mike Brown contract
The timing of Brown’s firing is particularly interesting, given that the head coach signed a multiyear extension with the Kings in June.
Brown’s contract extension paid him $8.5 million annually through the 2026-27 season, making it a 3-year, $25.5 million deal that can be worth up to $30 million if incentives are hit.
Brown’s original 4-year contract with the Kings was slated to expire after the 2024-25 season.
It sounds like the Kings fired Brown on Friday after he led the team through a full practice, and as it was set to board a plane to Los Angeles.
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
Brown even went through media availability shortly before his firing:
Again, just minutes ago we spoke with Mike Brown for 15 minutes. Part of what he talked about was handling the pressure as the head coach of an underperforming team.
Here was his answer minutes before being fired: pic.twitter.com/LvcZmUmeIN
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) December 27, 2024
Per Charania, current Kings assistant Doug Christie and former Sacramento guard will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
