Sacramento Kings GM breaks silence on firing of Mike Brown in ‘exclusive conversation’
The Kings were widely criticized for their decision to fire Mike Brown, who was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading Sacramento to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
The Kings faced additional scrutiny when team owner Vivek Ranadive, general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox refused to address the move publicly, leaving players to answer for the organization’s decision.
Two weeks later, McNair finally broke his silence in what was billed as an “exclusive conversation” with Mark Jones, a Kings employee who serves as the team’s play-by-play announcer on NBC Sports California. McNair wasn’t asked directly about the decision to fire Brown five months after giving him a three-year contract extension, but he answered a series of related questions on “Kings Pregame Live” before Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics.
Jones asked McNair what he has seen to “validate the fact that you guys made the right move” after watching the Kings win five in a row under interim coach Doug Christie.
“I think it’s been great to see our guys respond, whether it’s injury, obviously a coaching change or any other adversity we’ve hit here recently,” McNair said. “It’s been nice to see some shots go in at a higher clip. It’s been nice — we closed out a couple games, an overtime game and a 15-0 run against (the Philadelphia 76ers).
“Those have been great to see. But, really, just that the guys keep responding. De’Aaron Fox misses a game. We go play at Golden State, always a tough place, and really a great team effort to win that one by 30. Now, the new challenge of continuing this thing, continuing to try and compete in what’s always a tough West.”
Jones then asked McNair about Christie’s early success and “potential sustainability” moving forward.
“I think the unique thing that Doug brings is, obviously, a former player, but a former Sacramento King player,” McNair said. “He loves the city. He loves the organization. He’s been a broadcaster, a coach, a player and now a head coach, so I think that passion he brings is huge. I think for our guys, maybe lately he’s given them the confidence and freedom to go out there and perform, and so far they’ve responded to his message.”
McNair also thanked Brown, who went 107-88 (.549) in two-plus seasons with the Kings, joining Rick Adelman (.633) as the only coaches to post a winning record in the Sacramento era.
“First, I want to say how much we appreciate Mike and everything that he did for this organization,” McNair said. “Breaking the playoff drought, I have the utmost respect for him. Obviously, a tough decision when that time came.
“At the same time, now Doug is the interim head coach, and it’s our job to continue to support him and get him the support he needs for those players. For him, he brings what he brings to the table. He’s got to be himself, but we also have to give him the resources that he needs. What I think he brings to the table is his optimism, his playing experience and what he feels he needs to give to those players because that’s what he needed when he played. And right now, I think the guys have really responded to that.”
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM.
