Nuggets' Malone: Kings have 'no class' for firing Brown over phone
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone had some harsh words for Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive after his former employer fired Mike Brown earlier Friday.
"I'm not surprised that Mike Brown got fired because I got fired by the same person," Malone told reporters, including Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, on Friday. "And what really pissed me off about it was that they lost last night, fifth game in a row, I believe. Tough loss, fouling a jump-shooter.
"They have practice this morning. He does his post-(practice) media, and he's in his car going to the airport to fly to L.A. And they call him on the phone. No class. No balls. That's what I'll say about that."
Brown was the Kings' sixth head coach since Malone's December 2014 dismissal.
Brown guided Sacramento to a 48-34 record and snapped the franchise's 16-year playoff drought during his first year in charge. He subsequently became the first-ever person to unanimously win NBA Coach of the Year honors.
However, the Kings haven't made it back to the postseason since. They were eliminated by the New Orleans Pelicans in last year's play-in tournament.
Brown was rewarded with a three-year contract extension in June, but he was relieved of his duties Friday after Sacramento stumbled to a 13-18 start.
The Kings have lost an NBA-high 13 clutch-time games this season, including a 19-point blown lead Thursday versus the Detroit Pistons.