Kings coach Mike Brown reportedly fired before team boards flight

After a rough start to the 2024-25 season, the Sacramento Kings have reportedly parted ways with head coach Mike Brown, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Assistant coach Doug Christie is expected to take over as interim coach.

The timing of Brown’s firing was especially brutal, as it came just before the team boarded its flight to Los Angeles, according to a report from KXTV sports anchor Matt George. Per George, Brown held practice on Friday morning and had spoken to the media for 15 minutes prior to his firing.

Brown, who previously coached two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and for the Los Angeles Lakers, was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2023, his second time winning the award. However, Sacramento is off to a 13-18 start this season and is in the midst of a five-game losing streak while also dropping 12 of its last 17.

Since leading the Kings to a first-round playoff exit in his first season in 2022-23, Brown’s team missed the postseason with a loss in the play-in round last season.