Kings firing Mike Brown ripped by Nuggets coach Michael Malone: ‘No class, no balls’

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Mike Brown was fired as head coach of the Sacramento Kings on Friday, just 31 games into his third season (with a 13–18 record) and six months after signing a three-year contract extension.

Several of Brown’s peers had thoughts to share when asked for their reactions by reporters. Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone was particularly outspoken, having been fired by the Kings just 24 games into his second season as head coach in 2015.

“I’m not surprised that Mike Brown got fired, becuase I got fired by the same person,” Malone said, presumably referring to Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé.

Malone said he was initially surprised, then wasn’t because of the harsh realities of being an NBA head coach. Success is credited to the players, while failure is ultimately blamed on the coach.

“No class, no balls,” he added, citing the Kings firing Brown over the phone as he was driving to the airport. “That’s what I’ll say about that.”

Jordi Fernandez on the Kings firing Mike Brown: “He’s very good at what he does. In my opinion, one of the best. I wouldn’t be here without him. It’s sad news. I don’t like it. It’s part of the business. A year and a half ago he’s Coach of the Year and now this situation happens” pic.twitter.com/KQEGb1SZcz

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 27, 2024

Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez was an assistant under Malone in Denver and an associate head coach with the Kings for the past two seasons before becoming a head coach.

“He’s very good at what he does. In my opinion, one of the best,” Fernandez said before Friday’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, via Michael Scotto. “I wouldn’t be here without him. It’s sad news. I don’t like it. It’s part of the business. A year and a half ago, he’s Coach of the Year and now this situation happens.”

As Fernandez pointed out, Brown won NBA Coach of the Year honors for guiding the Kings to a 48–34 record and a playoff berth. (It was the second time he won the award.) Overall, he finished with a 107–88 record in Sacramento.

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was surprised the Sacramento Kings fired Mike Brown:

“The firing of…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kings-firing-mike-brown-ripped-by-nuggets-coach-michael-malone-no-class-no-balls-015336821.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-28 01:53:00

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