We all knew it was coming, but now it’s official: Mike Brown has been named the NBA’s Coach of the Year. This comes just one week after his peers in the Coaches Association gave him the same accolade. Brown is the first Kings coach in the Sacramento-era to win the award, and the first in franchise history since Cotton Fitzimmons won in 1978-79 with the Kansas City Kings.
According to the TNT broadcast, Mike Brown won the award with a unanimous decision, the first time that has ever happened since the award began in the 1962-63 season.
Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown has won the 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year award.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 19, 2023
This is the second time Brown himself has won the award, having last won in 2008-09 when he coached LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA best 66-16 record. This year, he led the Kings to a 48-34 record in his first season as coach and broke a 17 year long Playoff drought in the process.
The Sacramento Kings coaching carousel over the last 17 years has been infamous, featuring 11 different coaches. After the Kings fired Luke Walton last season and Alvin Gentry became the interim coach, finding the right head coach became the most important job for Monte McNair and company in the offseason. Mike Brown was likely not many fans first or even second choice for the job, but looking back he has certainly proved to be the right choice.
His sense of humor and infectious smile quickly won fans and media over, but his work ethic and desire for accountability and a strong team culture got everyone to truly buy in. He had the whole team, from front office members to players sign a contract to be “All In” before the season, and the team hasn’t wavered in their commitment.
At a team dinner before the season, Mike Brown gave a presentation and a speech.
Then he offered everyone – from business execs to players – a chance to sign "a contract."
“I laid it out how we could change the soul of the organization."
✍️ @jwquick https://t.co/3XwLvRpClw pic.twitter.com/8mH1H6lSX9
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) March 30, 2023
Throughout the season, we’ve seen Coach Brown be quick to call a timeout after a defensive lapse, always teaching and imploring his team to do better, striving for perfection on every possession. One of the more famous instances came earlier in the season when he laid into Kings guard Terence Davis on a bad defensive rotation, physically showing him where he needed to be. But when Davis later executed the rotation perfectly and drew a charge, Brown was the first up off the bench to congratulate and applaud him.
Even when the Kings would win big games, like Sacramento’s nationally televised win against the Knicks, he still called out his team in the postgame for failing to play physical and secure the boards. The Kings responded by holding the Phoenix Suns well below their season average in offensive rebounds in the next game and winning a big game against a division rival on the road.
“What Mike’s come here and (done), and what he said even before the season started, he’s instilled confidence in us,” Kings star De’Aaron Fox said after the New York game. “Hell, he might make you believe that you’re better than you are. That is what it is, so every night we go out there we expect to win.”
Brown hasn’t just been a disciplinarian though. He’s also kept the team loose and fun and playing some of the most entertaining basketball in the entire NBA. Mostly known for his defensive acumen coming into the season, Brown built an offensive system around Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox that set the NBA Record for offensive rating in a season.
For Coach Mike Brown and his staff (all of whom deserve credit as well: Jordi Fernandez, Doug Christie, Jay Triano, Luke Louks, Leandro Barbosa, Lindsey Harding, Dutch Gaitley and Deividas Dulkys) this award is a nice recognition of a job well done, but don’t believe for a second that Brown or the Kings believe the job is finished. Speaking to the media shortly before round 1 of the playoffs Brown had this to say:
“We weren’t playing just to make the playoffs. We’re trying to win a championship, like everybody else.”
Whether or not the Kings are successful in that lofty pursuit or not, pursue they will, and it’s in large part due to the belief instilled in them by Brown.
Congrats Coach!
Well deserved!
Truman defeats Dewey.
Nicely done, Vivek!
You win!
Congrats Coach Brown, and thank you.
I remember being disappointed when he was hired, not Luke-Walton-getting-hired disappointed, but disheartened nevertheless. And then Keegan Murray got drafted and I thought, Oh brother.
So happy to be wrong and wrong again.
Congrats, Coach!
WAY TO GO COACH MIKE!!!
Jets have been turned ON.
What a breath of fresh air Coach Brown and the staff have been. The turnaround has been pure joy and breathed new life into a moribund franchise. Now let’s crush the Ws in Game 3!
I love being wrong, of course I’m used to it because I’m happily married which means I’m wrong 99% of the time. I wasn’t mad about Mike Brown but he was like my third choice. Congratulations well deserved. I really enjoy his approach, the way he handles his players, The way he talks with the press, and the fact that he truly appreciates the fans. Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun to watch them win.
Congratulations, Coach Brown!
And in other news…
https://twitter.com/JandersonSacBee/status/1648784135539023872?cxt=HHwWgIDT4fCb1OEtAAAA
I figured there was no way in hell he wasn’t going to be out there unless he was in a full body cast or literally couldn’t move!
Outrider, Domas Sabonis would have played even in a body cast.
You’re probably right, and he’d still get a double double!
Perfect.
We underestimate this man. Probably a Triple Double.
I figured there was a better chance of me starting the next game than Domas not being there. Love that guy. He would have made a hell of a viking.
+1
Per ESPN: Warriors are listing Wiggins, Poole, and Payton as doubtful for tomorrow’s game.
Oh man. Can’t wait to hear all the excuses now. Really might actually be Kings in 4 lol
I can’t wait for the excuses, too. Would mean we beat them (again) to go up 3-0. Watch party tomorrow night. Who do they have left? Steph, Klay, Looney, DDV, Kuminga starting? Weak bench with Moody, the other Green, Lamb, and Baldwin.
It’s an odd move for game three, given that if you’re going to just dump out of the playoffs, you’d concede game four.
On the other hand, the Kings have consistently sucked ass against teams that start their benches.
If we win Thursday? Fuck being a gentleman.
Soft.
Holy Smokes. I knew Poole has foot issues (probably from all his silly flopping), and Payton had that stomach thing a while back. Wiggins is the big news here. 25 games off, plays two and is hurt? Or is it back to the family issue?
Definitely due to our new weapon who may not be protected by the second amendment?
The
rightonly man for the job.Mike Brown actually watches the tape!
Mike Brown doesn’t have to watch the tape to understand what’s happening right in front of him!
I understand that the vote was 100% for Coach Brown. Congratulations to Coach Brown.
Mama there goes that man.
says Mark Jackson who did not get hire, thank goodness but crafted one of the best sayings. (sorry Mark Jones)
Although Mark Jones will say Coach Mike took coach steve’s cornbread and don’t call him De’Aaron, he is HIM
Thanks for everything Coach. You´re the man.
He has my (our) vote as well- is there anything greater than unanimous?
I was wrong- I thought the team would grow slowly and they needed a slow growth, read- young coach. I thought Brown was too advanced for them and he would, in a sense, out distance them. Wrong.
I thought he would emphasize defense- wrong.
Actually, he does emphasize defense, but he knew that defense would take time, he emphasized (not sure if that is the right word) offense. I suspected that the most improvement would be on the defensive end. Wrong.
He is the perfect coach for these guys.
Monte picked him, pushed him over Mark Jackson (God – if you pardon that one- forbid). Monte added Malik, added Keegan, added Red Velvet
New stew, mix and success.
The Kings, so far, are the better team in this series. They are younger, fresher, more composed, more professional, more coherent.
It is not over.
Oh yes, DS “uses the ball as a weapon”. That means, he scores and we (duds) don’t like it???
This is another of coach steve’s distractions.
that’s the coach who went all Tucker Carlson in demeanor, acted like he never saw anything as Draymoron was grabbing at his junk a few feet away.
Draymoron was suspended for the act itself, for actions detrimental to the NBA and for repeated behavior.
Over there, in the Bay, they see or agree with NONE of that. NONE. I guess, as my brother says- he is an idiot, but he is our idiot.
Coach Mike Brown- congratulations.
Man’s made a believer out of me. Well done coach! Thank you!
You have done an amazing job Coach Brown. Thank you and your staff!
I hope he’s with this team for a decade and someday we get to raise a banner to the rafters celebrating him. Or a statue. I’m fully behind a statue, at this juncture.
And on top of being an outstanding coach, he’s a likeable, smart, friendly person who is very easy to root for.
38 yrs. of Kings basketball. 2nd Kings head coach with a winning record.
Just in the nick of time Rob. We have served our penance.
Congrats to the entire Kings Organization.
https://twitter.com/thekingsherald/status/1641292026254880768?s=46&t=LRRFdoSPcReEZERgnElWRA
This says it best
Excellent vid and the accompanying thread was great, including TKH review of Draymond’s physical altercations.
Thank You.
That stat blows my mind
That’s incredible. But in a very bad way. Thing is Brown came in with about a .600 career winning percentage. Just about where the Kings were this year. Stumbled a bit at the end.
Coach Brown is one of the most earnest, decent, challenging, and rewarding coaches I have watched form a team where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Coach Brown, Vivek, the other Interest Owners of the franchise and Monte are all Men Of The Year Winners.
Thank you.
Lakers just lost decisively without Ja Morant in the lineup, so be happy everybody!
Always reason to smile!
Mike Brown confirms the award given for an outstanding regular season coaching job by showing NBA hoopers everywhere that these Kings are in the playoffs and mean business.
Fuck it, he deserves it!
Unanimous is wild. God bless this man and his staff. If Mike Brown delivers a chip to Sacramento I will get his face tattooed on me somewhere. He probably wouldn’t want me to…but I will.
Congrats Coach! Well deserved! Now lead us to round 2 and possibly beyond!
duds complaining that DS uses the ball as a weapon
Does anyone have a picture of Draymoron using the ball as a weapon on Dillon Brooks head?
Using the ball as a weapon? This isn’t dodgeball, right Ben Stiller?
Seeing this news while watching Malone coach tonight.
A clear picture of one of the worst decisions in NBA history to basically even again. That was a BIG hole to climb out of.
Thank you Mike Brown.
Congratulations to Coach Brown, well deserved.
Also, according to the graphic on the Kings app, congratulations to De’Aaron Fox in being voted to 2nd team All-NBA
Was apprehensive of the coaching choice and draft pick as I have come to be these past 17years. Just galas it was not Jackson and saw the logic with the Keenan pick as I am pretty practical. Went to the home opener and felt we brought it as the Sixth Man so was a little dishearten in the waning minutes. Then the following losses and was questioning my Nugget bet for the Kings to make the playoffs. The team played hard and did not give up I noticed. I heard about the “All In” contract and then the next dozen games happened and faith was rekindled. Then the beam and hope elevated. Now it’s destiny. Received my #6 Beam Team jersey today just in time to drape it on my 17 year old son to catch our favorite team at the Chase Center tomorrow. I’ll be wearing my 2006 official Kings playoff shirt proudly but unfortunately my genuine cowbell will have to stay at home for the Worrier fans don’t want to hear real fans in their house. 219 row 8…Let’s Go Kings!
I hope to hear you yelling “Light the Beam” in Chase center. That would be beyond awesome.
Coach Mike is so smart!
Anyways fuck and to the yeah – we have one of the best teams in the Association and that feels still really weird. I wish I could invade SF tomorrow but I did have legit dinner plans that will bring me towards DOCO instead.
If the Kings win tomorrow, game 4 tix might be had cheap.
Congratulations Coach Mike Brown! Every new coach comes in with big words at their initial press conference. Difference is Mike Brown actually delivered. Very happy for him and the organization. Two major accolades in two days. Now let’s win game 3 and watch the duds excuses go into overdrive.
Congrats coach Brown.
Class act.
Woooooo!!!! Congrats Coach Brown!!!! I remember not being that excited hearing his name floating around, but I’m so glad he proved me wrong. And so thankful Mark Jackson didn’t get hired.
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