Kings fire Mike Brown and promote Doug Christie as interim coach

According to ESPN, the Kings have fired head coach Mike Brown after a 13-18 start to the 2024-25 NBA season.

This decision follows a devastating 114-113 home loss to the Pistons on Thursday, in which the Kings led by 10 points with just under three minutes left before collapsing.

It was the Kings’ fifth straight loss, the longest such streak since Brown took over the Kings in 2022.

All five losses came at home in Sacramento.

Brown, 54, was instrumental in ending the Kings’ 16-year playoff drought in the 2022-23 season.

He received the NBA Coach of the Year award and became the first unanimous winner of the award after the team went 48-34 to finish third in the Western Conference.

Despite the early success, the current Kings season has been marked by inconsistencies and poor performance.

The recent series of home defeats, culminating in defeat against Detroit, appears to have marked the turning point for the organization’s leadership.

The Kings have not yet announced detailed plans for a permanent replacement, but Doug Christie will reportedly take over as interim head coach.

Christie has been an assistant with the Kings since 2021 after playing in the NBA from 1992 to 2007, most notably during their last stint as a contender for the Kings and starting every game from 2000 to 2005.

Brown, a two-time Coach of the Year winner, also led the Cavaliers (2005-10, 13-14) and Lakers (2011-13).