Following Mike Brown’s unexpected firing on Friday, interim Kings coach Doug Christie emphasized the importance of unity, as reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Christie, who was an assistant under Brown, now faces the task of reviving a struggling team that is 12th in the West at 13-18.
Christie urged his players to stay together and fight, telling them, “To come out and stick together, fight and just be us, be who we are and turn this thing around,” as shared by Domantas Sabonis.
Malik Monk noted a renewed energy at the shootaround, while Sabonis, despite being sick, showed his commitment by arranging his travel to Los Angeles.
Brown’s firing followed a tough 0-5 homestand, despite leading the Sacramento Kings to the playoffs in 2023.
Sabonis and Monk were shocked, and De’Aaron Fox revealed he learned of the firing “a minute before everybody else.”
Fox acknowledged the nature of the business, saying, “You can be traded at any point… but at the end of the day, too, he’s still being paid.”
Although Brown’s firing seemed sudden, there had been reports of “waning confidence” from ownership, and internal disagreements about the lineup.
Sources also mentioned that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive had previously preferred Mark Jackson as head coach, which may explain Christie’s promotion, though it’s unclear if he’ll remain beyond this season.
Kings Players React To Sudden Coaching Change https://t.co/3dLLhSbbsl pic.twitter.com/sqr1qtn6bg
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 29, 2024
