18 Months After They Fired Him, Mike Brown Just Made the Kings Look Like the Biggest Joke in the NBA

Alright, Emerald City! You guys gotta hear this story. The NBA Finals just wrapped up, and guess who’s lifting the trophy as head coach of the New York Knicks? Mike Brown! Yeah, the same dude the Sacramento Kings decided 18 months ago wasn’t "fit to coach." Talk about a massive facepalm for Sacramento. He’s out there boisterously leading "Who let the dogs out?" chants, holding a confused child, and probably sending a big, fat "told you so" right back to California.

Mike Brown's Sacramento Rollercoaster Ended in a Massive Fail

Seriously, can you believe the Kings did this? Brown joined them after racking up three rings as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, and he completely changed their fortunes. Before him, Sacramento was stuck at 31 wins or fewer for three straight seasons. Brown rolls in, and BAM! They hit 48-34 in 2022-23. He ended their ridiculous 17-year playoff drought, which was the longest in major North American sports. Longest! And what did he get for it? The first unanimous Coach of the Year honors in NBA history. Then, they win 46 games the next season, falling short in the play-in, but still, they were a competitive team. But then, 2024-25 starts, they go 13-18, and panic sets in. The Kings made the "most Kings move possible," firing him after practice, right before a team flight! Coaches around the league, like Mike Malone, were publicly befuddled, saying it was "no class, no balls." Brutal.

The Knicks Swooped In, And Now Sacramento Looks Silly

So, the Knicks, smart guys they are, swooped in months later to snag Brown as Tom Thibodeau's replacement. And what a move it was! Brown capped off a dream first season, leading them on a run where they won 15 of 16 games, one of the most dominant stretches we've ever seen. This wasn't some "superteam" either. It was a squad of well-defined role players, led by the unflappable Jalen Brunson. They were known for their mental toughness, falling behind in every game and never blinking. Brown pressed all the right buttons, even revamping Karl-Anthony Towns' offensive role. Josh Hart, a starter, couldn’t stop praising him after Game 5, saying Brown was "invaluable to this run" and "the reason why we're here." Meanwhile, what are the Kings doing? They finished this season at a miserable 22-60 and are picking seventh in the NBA Draft. Ouch. Yeah, it wasn't a totally smooth ride for the Knicks in the regular season, they still hit 53 wins, but things really clicked in the playoffs. A major reason? A team meeting where Brown, as SNY reported, simply "encouraged" them. The Kings thought he couldn't get them over the hump. Well, he sure got the Knicks over the biggest hump of all. What an absolute vindication for Mike Brown, and a hilarious disaster for Sacramento.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.