Mike Brown has the Sacramento Kings rolling. The team is in second place in the west, has the highest scoring offense, two All-Stars and has the city of Sacramento buzzing. So yeah, things are going quite well in his first season with the Kings.
As momentum builds for Brown’s case for Coach Of The Year, and coming off the team’s 40th win of the season (the only Kings coach since Rick Adelman to achieve that win record), let’s take a look at some of his memorable moments as Kings head coach so far.
It’s Not Time To Panic
At the start of the season, spirits were down. That is because the Kings had started off 0-3 and the eye rolls and sighs had already begun. Another disappointing season seemed to be on the horizon. The fan base didn’t have much faith at the time, and why would they given the Kings history?
It was then that Brown spoke directly to Sacramento and told everyone to chill.
“There’s a little bit of anxiety around here, and I would caution everybody, there’s a time to overreact and a time not to. And after three games, for me, and I hope everybody takes my lead, it’s not time to,” Brown said.
And he was right.
The Kings would go on to a 10-3 record from this point on, and the rest is history.
In-Game Terence Davis Coaching Moment
Early in the season, Terence Davis missed a defensive assignment on a pick and roll. During the next timeout Brown pulled Davis out onto the court to demonstrate what went wrong. Not long after that, the Suns came at Davis with the same play, and he stopped it by taking a charge with Brown’s advice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=300G0kFwAR8
Brown immediately celebrated.
Coaching Keegan Murray
In early January, Brown shared a conversation he had with Murray.
“I walked up to him, and I said, ‘Keegan, if somebody asked me if Keegan Murray’s shot is not going in, what’s he going to bring to the table?’ Keegan looked at me and thought it was a trick question. I said, ‘it’s not a trick question.’ He said, ‘well, I space the floor.’ I said, ‘yeah, you space the floor.’ I said, ‘but you know what, I’m 52, I’m fat and I’m out of shape, and if I knock down a couple shots I could space the floor,’ I said, ‘so what else can you tell me?’ He goes, ‘I’m not sure.”
Brown then pushed his rookie to be able to answer that question with defense and rebounding – a multiple-effort guy. Up until this point, Murray was averaging 3.8 rebounds per game. From that point on, he has averaged 5.4 rebounds per game, and we we have seen improvements in his defense.
And then there was Brown coaching Murray up on being able to create his own shot post-All-Star break – and Murray responding.
The incremental growth of the rookie in the midst of a season where the Kings are winning at a high level on the backs of veterans is really impressive coaching. Many coaches in the NBA get labeled as being a “veteran guy” or a “development guy.” Brown is proving he can be both and win while doing it.
The All-Star Voting Push
And it isn’t just the on-the-court improvements. Brown displays necessary tough love, but also shows his players a lot of public love. As soon as the All-Star voting became available, he took a moment during a media session to speak to everyone in Sacramento and around the world who support the Kings to get out and vote for his two-all stars.
It was a fun moment that I am sure made Fox and Sabonis smile.
His Relationship With De’Aaron Fox
Speaking of tough love. Brown has mentioned more than once how he appreciates how Fox has allowed him to coach him tough, which lets him coach the rest of the team the same way. And there have been many times when Fox is relaying Brown’s message about what needs to improve, even after wins. But what Brown’s presence has done for Fox, and the entire organization, is create a sense of confidence, accountability and stability.
Here is what Fox had to say about how Brown’s presence has changed things during the All-Star break.
“I think it’s changed not only just our team or the players, I think it’s changed the entire organization, the way the city looks at the organization as well from top to bottom. Whenever he got here that was the first thing that he said, he said we need be aligned from ownership all the way down to the last person on the bench, to the staff and that’s what he’s brought,” Fox said. “He’s brought just a level of consistency a level of urgency, and he’s kind of just changed everybody.”
Fox continued.
“A lot of it is just having that respect level, either earning respect or giving respect. Obviously, he is a defensive-minded-coach, and we have the best offense in the league, [but] he’s trying to instill that you can’t win every game being a great offensive team because this is a make or miss league.”
And he has instilled a level of confidence that was hugely void for the last 16 years.
“Mike says this probably going into every game: ‘I didn’t come here to coach a team just to go the playoffs or to lose in the first round, that’s not why I came here.’ So, for us I mean he’s instilled so much confidence in us that we go out and win any game that you step foot in.”
Comments After Win Over The Knicks
Most recently, after the Kings pulled out a tough win over the surging New York Knicks on national television, Brown dug into his team for the number of offensive rebounds they allowed (23).
“We were not good. I was extremely disappointed in our inability to box out, let alone rebound. Josh Hart just kicked our ass. He kicked our ass. Nobody put a body on him the entire night,” Brown said. “I am not happy with our performance at all except for the fact that we got the win.”
And then he called out Fox and Domantas Sabonis directly.
“I’m going to put pressure on Domas and Foxy. They have to hold themselves to an elite level on every possession, but just as importantly, they’ve got to open their mouths and hold their teammates to a high standard because that ain’t going to fly,” Brown said.
This moment reminded me of Michael Malone and how he coached while he was in Sacramento, and has continued to so in Denver. No matter the situation, Brown is going to look for things that need to be corrected. As the playoffs get closer, it is go-time for this coaching staff to further hammer home the details that matter most in April – rebounding and defense. And this was a great example.
His team followed these comments up on Saturday by holding the Phoenix Suns to 7 offensive rebounds.
No one needs me to tell them that this season has been amazing, and that Brown has done a great job, but these are just a few of the examples of why this man has played an important, if not the most important, role in what has this city beaming. Chances are he wins Coach Of The Year, and rightfully so, but what is even better is at 53 years old (he celebrated a birthday on March 5), the Kings likely have their coach for many, many years to come.
Brown clearly sees things on the game tape that another coach never saw.
Brown has show he doesnt need to rely on game tape to make adjustments
Brown has shown he doesnt need to rely on game tape to make adjustments
Say it once say it twice, I’ll give it a thumbs up every time!
Brown doesn’t have tapes in front of him sitting on the bench watching 5 players at once, what the other team is doing and how to make adjustments on the fly. He also has an excellent coaching staff helping him do this. I watch the bench an their are always making comments. All of them. Brown listens to this as well as players tyo help make those adjustments. He really has a sense of who to play at certain times in the game. Case in point. Lyles for Murray a lot in last game. Not that Murray isn’t worthy but Lyles was really on a roll in the fourth quarter. He also left Edwards in the fourth even after his turnover. Gave Edwards the confidence and look what happened? 3. If you would have taken Lebron James aside out on the floor to explain some defense he wouldn’t listen but if he takes TD aside you have a different result. I quess what I’m saying no matter who it is on the Kings whether Fox Sabonis or Davis they respect his coaching and play accordingly. They are starting to buy in his defensive coaching again along with the coaches he has and if that happens look out.
Brown has show he doesnt need to rely on game tape to make adjustments
I feel like I read this comment earlier. Well said though.
doesnt game make adjustments he show on tape to rely Brown has to need
I like it even as a word puzzle.
Brutal, but fair.
MB brought calm, decisiveness, accountability, confidence, and a clear direction to both this team and the organization.
and to add something I was thinking during the game…Monty must’ve had a huge grin on his face while watching Edwards get some burn and play well. That minor after-thought of a trade brought the team at least 1 win so far and the Kings were paid by the Nets for it (Monty definitely gets his kudos too for this organization’s turnaround and gets credit for brining MB in).
Brown and this team have exceeded expectations. Monte is the reason this is all happening. He’s somehow found a.way to deal with/ignore Vivek.
The only thing ever holding this team back was Vivek’s inability to back off and let a good basketball mind -Monte- run the show. It’s finally happened.
Mike Brown is just too perfect. It’s amazing.
I’ve read this a bunch these last few days, and each time in my mind I see Brad Pitt talking to David Justice.
So much better than Luke Walton’s 82 examples of cellar coaching.

MB: “A bad head coach says tape?”
LW: “Tape?”
Ha. Coach Alton. Thank god were out of the business of following the owners whims.
Oops. We’re.
Owner’s
Apostrophe catastrophe
Mike Brown = (1/0) x Luke Waltdumb
I just love the fact that Brown was brought in to take over the lead assistant job in Golden State when Luke left for the Lakers and now has taken over for Luke here in Sac. Each time he made the teams better after Luke left. The Warriors have 3 titles with Brown as lead assistant and one with Luke as lead assistant.
I wasn’t much of a fan of about 6 or 7 kings coaches since Adelman. I don’t know why everyone stops at just the last horrible coach.
I feel like Walton was absolutely the most horrible of the last half dozen. I can’t think of one quite so deplorably useless since Eric Musselman, and I feel like he was at least trying. According to the powerpoints. Walton was collecting a check and frequent flier miles.
George Karl
Agreed. Guy couldn’t even talk without sounding like he had a mouth full of gravel. He was ten years past his sell by date.
Dead Playoff Drought Society
I’m losing my head over this team!

Pete Davidson loses his head.
…Proceeds to still get asked out on date by hot celebrity.
Ye don’t say.
A coach that… coaches?..
It’s crazy right!?
And GM, too. Don’t eff this up, Vivek.
Forever Contract?
I was wondering about this.
What do you all see as the single, specific event that started the change of fortunes of this franchise?
I think the hiring of Monte was a direction changer for this franchise’s fortunes. I forget the specific set of events led to Vlade’s (or Dumars’, or whoever’s) dismissal but the way that Monte was brought in was a rare correct action from Vivek. The team hired an external consulting firm, IIRC, which did an exhaustive search and settled on Monte. We didn’t end up with an butt-pulled answer, as has been the case with so many decisions in the turdfest that’s been Vivek’s ownership history. Monte hasn’t been entirely infallible, but he’s been rather good, especially of late. The fact that Vivek let the right thing happen for this GM search gives me hope that he’ll let the basketball people run the basketball operations going forward.
A well thought-out post, and I think you are in the right direction.
I agree. The moment was when the ownership group decided to do things the right way instead of the “maybe this idea no one in the nba world agrees with could work better” way
Agreed. For what it’s worth, while Vivek took longer than most, it’s fairly common for a new owner of a sport franchise to need to be knocked down a few pegs. Just as all our failures ultimately trickled back up to Vivek, so do the successes. While Monte, Brown, and the players are all doing exceptionally well at their jobs, the root of this tree starts with Vivek doing a normal hiring process for a GM, hiring the recommended person, and then (mostly) getting out of their way.
Another point in Vivek’s favor that will hopefully continue: I don’t think I’ve heard a single peep from him this entire season.
Hiring Monte McNair. There’s not a close 2nd. Without Monte, we’re not having this conversation. But as always, there’s more to it. But if the question is ‘what started it’, the answer is Monte.
Close, but no cigar.
You have to look more into the cause-and-effect direction, Nate.
No, Ari, I don’t. Everything else that has come along started with McNair. He drafted Haliburton. Signed Fox to the extension. Let Bogi walk in FA. Didn’t trade Barnes.
There’s other stuff in there, of course, but that’s the big picture. But none of that happens unless McNair makes those choices (outside of the De’Aaron extension) the way he did.
Vivek Ranadive was still messy, he’s still erratic, he still does things that make little sense. Hiring McNair, or hiring a firm to find him, whatever, matters little difference. McNair has won the important battles with Ranadive every step of the way.
And, no I’m not indulging the notion that TKH moving to an independent platform caused this. You silly ass half Dutch-Israeli barrister.
Hiring McNair and letting him do his thing.
I agree that the hiring of Monte was easily the biggest change event, but predating that a bit, letting Cousins go was consequential as well. Kings held on to him as the face of the franchise and didn’t hold him accountable for too long enabling a crappy culture.
I must confess something…
I was not very excited when Mike Brown was hired.
I’m a moron!
I think most of us were just relieved rather than excited because Vivek didn’t force Monte to hire Mark Jackson. I was one of the ones who wasn’t that excited by his hire, and I’m so glad I was wrong about the kind of impact he would have.
It sure did feel like this site was in favor of the hot new thing coach. But often experience is the way to go.
You’re not alone. By the time he was hired, I was starting to get onboard, but when his name started appearing at the top of all the rumored lists it was initially greeted with a collective groan by most of the fanbase. Once you dove into his resume, especially his work with Team Nigeria, it started to make sense.
Remember the time most of us here were not thrilled when the Kings named the 3 finalist for the coaching job? I for one was not sold on Brown (wanted Hardy as the coach). Man was I so wrong. Brown is the perfect coach for this team. Got to give credit to Monte and the FO. They’ve really knock this season out of the park. Hired the right coach, drafted the right player and signed the right free agents! If Brown wins COTY, Mcnair should win EOFTY.
I feel like if we’re talking about Coach Brown as COTY we should be talking about Monte McNair and staff getting the Front Office of the Year, right? Do they still do that one?
I was very enthused for this team when they brought Monte in, but was concerned we were going to start modeling ourselves after some of those Houston 3 guard lineups and small ball they trotted out for almost a decade. While it was fairly successful for Houston, I didn’t think it was going to work for us, for whatever reason. watching him shift this team from a guard heavy roster to a run & gun offense featuring a ball handling center via a trade that had half the city ready to bury him in the railyards has been nothing short of brilliant. Then he loaded the roster with as much high level NBA talent as he could and paired that all with one hell of a coach, maybe the absolute best option to work this team into what we’re seeing today, the absolute best version we could have possibly hoped for.
And yes. Mike Brown has done an outstanding job. Anyone who watches basketball knows this team is good. Damn good. Coach Brown and staff are huge contributors to this success. Thank goodness. Or thank Monte.
Monte has one of the best attributes of a good GM: he is not afraid to take some heat. He was absolutely put on blast for a good several months for the Haliburton trade, by fans and media alike. While there’s always a what-if scenario with that trade, the balance it (and other moves) has brought to this roster has set up a situation where everyone can thrive. The results speak for themselves.
This is genuinely excellent work Blake.
What. A. Season.
The man might very well be on the way to earning himself a statue in front of that shiny arena.
Take down that silly piglet and put MB in it’s place.
At least wait until after Marvin Bagley is inducted into the hall of fame.
I am in love with Mike Brown.
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I’m ok with that
❤️ ???? ???? ???? ❤️
Same! I’m giddy when that man’s name is mentioned. And I called him a “retread” and thought we should have hired an up and comer…
What I also like is Mike Brown is going to take all these accolades in stride and not bring attention to himself but recognize the front office, ALL his coaches and All the players that helped bring this franchise out of the ashes. That’s one good reason he is one good coach’.
Yeah I love that about him.
I thought he was the best of a bunch of just “ok” coaching options. At the time, I didn’t think the team had a very quality list at all. In fact, I don’t think anybody in the league saw this coming. Mike Brown was the peanut butter to this roster’s chocolate and there’s no way in hell you could have seen it looking like this ahead of making the hire. No way.
Brown brings a pedigree, a proven record, and an instant respect to the Kings organization. Refreshing after the Malone and Joergen firings followed by the disastrous Karl, Corbin, and Walton tenures. I hope he’s the long term coach.
It’s unfair to say Tyrone Corbin was a disaster. The org was a dumpster fire, Corbin never deserved to be associated with that shitshow. His only mistake was hiring on to be an assistant head coach with Malone in the first place. What a disgrace that was.
I’m basing my Corbin comment on the team record with him as HC.
He was 7 and 21. .250 winning percentage. I’d call that a disaster.
And I think that’s a dramatic oversimplification that serves one purpose: To make Tyrone Corbin look like the problem and absolve those who were actually responsible for that tire fire dumpster of a roster and situation.
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