In a move that has left the NBA community in shock, the Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his third season. This decision comes despite Brown’s impressive track record, including being named the NBA Coach of the Year in 2022-23, when he led the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 16 years.
The Kings’ decision to part ways with Brown follows a disappointing start to the 2024-25 season, with the team sitting at 13-18 and mired in a five-game losing streak. The final straw came after a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Pistons, where the Kings blew a 10-point lead in the final minutes. Brown was informed of his dismissal over the phone while on his way to the airport, a move that has been widely criticized for its lack of class and professionalism.
The Sacramento Kings have long been regarded as one of the worst-run franchises in the NBA. Since Vivek Ranadivé took over as owner in 2013, the Kings have cycled through eight head coaches, with none lasting more than three seasons. This constant turnover has created a culture of instability and inconsistency, making it difficult for the team to build any sustained success.
Despite Brown’s efforts to change the culture and bring accountability to the team, the Kings’ front office has repeatedly failed to provide the necessary support and resources. The acquisition of DeMar DeRozan over the summer was supposed to elevate the team, but the Kings have struggled to find their footing.
Mike Brown’s firing is a classic example of a coach being made the scapegoat for a franchise’s deeper issues. While Brown certainly had his share of challenges, including a roster that struggled defensively and a lack of cohesion, the blame for the team’s poor performance cannot be placed solely on his shoulders.
Brown’s public criticism of star player De’Aaron Fox after the loss to Detroit may have also played a role in his dismissal. However, many believe that the decision to fire Brown was more about deflecting blame from the front office and ownership than addressing the team’s real problems.
The firing of Mike Brown highlights the ongoing dysfunction within the Sacramento Kings organization. Until the franchise addresses its deeper issues and commits to a long-term vision, it is unlikely that any coach will be able to achieve sustained success. Brown’s departure is a reminder that in the NBA, coaches often bear the brunt of the blame for a team’s failures, even when the root causes lie elsewhere.
