"Mike Brown didn't play any defense" - LA Lakers announcer takes a cheeky dig at Kings for firing 2023 COY

Before Saturday's game against the LA Lakers, the Sacramento Kings fired coach Mike Brown and named Doug Christie as the interim head coach. It was widely criticized by coaches and other basketball personalities around the NBA. Lakers announcer Stu Lantz took a shot at the Kings during the game's broadcast.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stand-up comedian Jay Aquino pointed out Lantz's remarks about the Kings. The former NBA player and long-time Lakers announcer put the blame on the players rather than Brown, who helped Sacramento end their playoff drought in 2023.

"Mike Brown didn't play any defense. He left that up the guys on the floor," Lantz said.

The Sacramento Kings were off to a rough start at 13-18 when they fired Mike Brown. The Kings made the decision before heading to Los Angeles for the game against the LA Lakers. They were coming off a disappointing loss to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

Sacramento was up by 10 points with less than four minutes left but lost 114-113 to the Pistons. The nail in the coffin for Brown's tenure was Jaden Ivey hitting a 3-point shot and getting fouled to tie the game. Ivey converted the free throw to give Detroit the victory.

Brown began his stint in Sacramento by snapping the Kings' 16-year playoff drought. They finished the 2022-23 season as the third seed but were eliminated in the first round by the Golden State Warriors in seven games. They reached the play-in tournament last season but failed to make the playoffs.

Despite coming up short, the Kings signed him to a three-year, $25.5 million extension. The franchise also signed DeMar DeRozan, going all in on offense and not having any defensive anchor on their roster.

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Multiple NBA coaches ripped the Sacramento Kings for firing Mike Brown

Multiple NBA coaches ripped the Sacramento Kings for firing Mike Brown. (Photo: IMAGN)

Under the ownership of Vivek Ranadive, the Sacramento Kings have dismissed seven head coaches. Multiple coaches around the league criticized the franchise for what they did to Mike Brown, who had winning seasons in his first two years with the team.

Michael Malone, Steve Kerr, J.B. Bickerstaff, Rick Carlisle, Jamahl Mosley and Tom Thibodeau expressed their support for Brown. Malone was furious with the Kings, calling them out for how they treated their most successful coach since Rick Adelman.

The current Denver Nuggets coach is one of the seven coaches fired by the Kings since Ranadive became the majority owner. Other coaches dismissed by the franchise since 2013 include Tyrone Corbin, George Karl, Dave Joerger, Luke Walton and Alvin Gentry.

Former Kings player Doug Christie was named the interim coach, losing his first game in charge against the LA Lakers on Saturday.