Kings fire Mike Brown: Coach out in Sacramento after 13-18 start to season, per report

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The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown, ESPN reported Friday. The Kings are off to a 13-18 start this season, which puts them on the outside looking in of the playoff and play-in picture at the end of December. Brown's dismissal comes less than two years after he was named NBA Coach of the Year and helped Sacramento snap a 16-year playoff drought and just six months after he signed a contract extension. Kings assistant Doug Christie is reportedly set to be the team's interim head coach going forward.

Brown became head coach of the Kings ahead of the 2022-23 season. In his first season, he took the Kings to their first playoff appearance since 2006, which was the longest active playoff drought in NBA history, and longest across the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL. Brown earned Coach of the Year honors that season, as the Kings looked to be on an upward trajectory.

But after a successful season in his first year at the helm, Sacramento regressed last season and missed the playoffs after losing in the play-in round to the New Orleans Pelicans. This season has by far been the most disappointing, as they're currently on a five-game losing steak, have lost 12 of their last 17 games and have a league-leading 13 clutch losses, a surprising number given De'Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan are amongst the best clutch players in the league.

Prior to his time with the Kings, Brown also had previous head coaching stops with the Cavaliers and Lakers and has a career record of 454-304 (.599) in the regular season.

Mike Brown era with KingsSeasonRecordPlayoffs

2022-23

48-34

No. 3 seed in West, lost in first round

2023-24

46-36

No. 9 seed in West, lost in play-in

2024-25

13-18

TBD

In addition to the disappointing on-court results, trade rumors in regards to Fox have been circulating as the star point guard has reportedly been contemplating his future in Sacramento. Fox declined to sign a contract extension this past offseason, setting up a situation where his time with the Kings could be coming to a close. 

In regards to Brown, you could see frustration boil over after a heartbreaking clutch loss to the Pistons Thursday night. Sacramento blew a 19-point lead to the Pistons, but held a three-point lead with 10 seconds left. However, on Detroit's final possession, not only did Sacramento allow Jaden Ivey to get off a 3-pointer, which he made, Fox fouled Ivey on the shot and he made his free throw, winning the game for the Pistons. After the game, Brown was visibly frustrated with his team's effort at the end of that game, specifically calling out Fox for that last possession.

"We told them -- they know -- the only thing that could hurt us is a 3," Brown said. "I need to go back and watch the film to see exactly where [De'Aaron] Fox was, but there was no reason for there to be a hard closeout. We were okay with them scoring a 2 at the rim, so you should not be in position to help at all. You should be hugged up to your man at the 3-point line. Everybody should. Why there was a closeout by Fox, I'm not sure, I gotta go back and watch the tape. But for sure, 100% we told our guys, can't give up a 3. Stay connected, stay on the high side. I even drew an example of if your guy is on the floor just hop on his high side. The only thing that can hurt us is a 3. And we close out and we foul with three seconds to go. It's tough, because we keep telling our guys, you gotta pay attention to details. ...To relax like that at that point in the game was tough."

The timing of Brown's dismissal is pretty surprising, given he talked to media today ahead of Sacramento's game against the Lakers Saturday night. But it's clear that the Kings felt a change was needed.