Warriors’ Steve Kerr still in ‘shock’ over Kings’ firing of Mike Brown

SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr had a hard time believing who was — or rather wasn’t — on the visitor’s bench Sunday night.

A week and a half following the Kings’ decision to part ways with Mike Brown, the Warriors coach was still processing the decision. Brown, a member of Kerr’s staff from 2016-22 and the NBA’s coach of the year in 2022-23, was fired on Dec. 27 amid a five-game skid that sank Sacramento to 13-18 to start the season.

“I’m still in shock with the Kings coming here tonight. I’m shocked that he got fired,” said Kerr, who was also outspoken immediately in the wake of the move. “The job he’s done the last couple years, where that team is, where that franchise is now, compared to when he came aboard. We all go through stretches. We just lost 12 of 15. Everybody in the league goes through stretches. Miami just lost by 35 at home to Utah. They’re not firing Erik Spoelstra.

“All of these issues that we face as organizations, it’s a group effort. We all share blame when things go wrong. I just had a really hard time understanding with what Mike has done there how that move was made. But it was made.”

When Brown was hired in 2022 after helping the Warriors to the NBA championship, the Kings had missed the playoffs for 16 straight seasons and hadn’t posted a winning record since 2006. In two-plus seasons, Brown compiled a 107-88 record and took Sacramento to the playoffs in both full seasons under his watch.

But it was Doug Christie at the head of the Kings’ bench Sunday. In four games since he was named interim head coach, Sacramento had gone 3-1 entering its matchup against Golden State.

Brown led practice the day he was fired and received the news on his way to board the team’s flight for its next road trip. He has not issued a public comment since the move was made.

While Kerr said the two have spoken, he declined to share the details of their discussions.

“Obviously all of that remains private,” Kerr said. “But Mike’s a great friend and a great coach.”