NBA

Sacramento Kings Hire Mike Brown As New Head Coach

May 8, 2022, 4:00 PM | Updated: 4:36 pm

(Associated Press)...

(Associated Press)

(Associated Press)

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Sacramento Kings have reached an agreement with current Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown to become the team’s new head coach.

Brown, 52, coached the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers to a 305-187 (.620) record during his six seasons with the team that included five postseason berths and an appearance in the 2007 NBA Finals.

During the 2011-12 season, Brown coached the Los Angeles Lakers to a Pacific Division championship and first-round series victory over the Denver Nuggets. Brown was fired just five games into the 2012-13 season in what was the third-fastest coaching change in NBA history.

Since the beginning of the 2016-17 season, Brown has been an integral part of a Warriors coaching staff that has won two championships and been one of the greatest basketball dynasties in recent memory.

Brown has had a large hand in crafting a Warriors defense that finished the 2021-22 season with a league-best 106.9 defensive rating and ranked third in opponent points per game (105.5).

“Mike is very, very prideful of defense,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson said in an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle in February.

“He’s like a secondary head coach. Coached us throughout that time in the 2017 playoffs. Coached the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Finals. He’s been around some of the greatest to play the game. This might technically be a new role for him this season. But really, it’s nothing he hasn’t done before.”

Defense must be a priority for the Sacramento Kings this summer as the team finished the 2021-22 season with the 27th-worst defensive rating and allowed nearly 116 points per game–bad enough to rank 29th in opponent points per game.

Brown will look to become the first Kings head coach to lead Sacramento to the postseason since Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman last did so during the 2005-06 season.

This story is currently being updated.

Newsletter

NBA

TOPSHOT - Metropolitan 92's French power forward Victor Wembanyama shoots the ball during the Frenc...

Frankie Cartoscelli

NBA supports Victor Wembanyama making his Summer League debut in Sacramento

The NBA is supportive of the possibility that Victor Wembanyama makes his Summer League debut in Sacramento during the California Classic.

14 hours ago

BOLOGNA, ITALY - JANUARY 12: Aleksandar Vezenkov #14 of Olympiacos Piraeus during the 2022-23 Turki...

Frankie Cartoscelli

Sasha Vezenkov scores 20 points in Game 1 of Greek Basket League Finals

Sacramento Kings prospect Sasha Vezenkov scored 20 points in Game 1 of the Greek Basket League Finals on Sunday afternoon.

14 hours ago

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 04: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets battles Bam Adebayo #13 of the M...

Frankie Cartoscelli

Did Nikola Jokic’s lack of playmaking affect Denver in Game 2?

Denver Sports' Jake Shapiro joined Dave Show with Jason to break down Game 2 of the NBA Finals, discuss Nikola Jokic's play & more.

14 hours ago

Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during t...

WILL PETERSEN Denver Sports Analyst

Disastrous fourth quarter dooms Nuggets, NBA Finals tied 1-1

The Miami Heat won at Ball Arena 111-108 on Sunday night, tying the NBA Finals at 1-1. Things shift to Miami for Game 3 on Wednesday.

2 days ago

Rick Adelman (2L) is honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award during Game Two of the ...

Joseph Jarosz

Rick Adelman receives 2023 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award

Former Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman has been named the 2023 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.

2 days ago

NBA commissioner Adam Silver announces a pick by the Sacramento Kings during the 2022 NBA Draft at ...

Joseph Jarosz

Jerry Reynolds on how the Sacramento Kings should approach the upcoming draft

Legendary Sacramento Kings broadcaster, coach, and general manager Jerry Reynolds joined Chris & Co. to talk about the Kings and the NBA Finals.

4 days ago

Sacramento Kings Hire Mike Brown As New Head Coach