Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Lakers Fire Head Coach Mike Brown After Bad Start, Kobe Death Stare [UPDATED]
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN LA, the Lakers have fired head coach Mike Brown. In one season and five games with the Lakers, he has gone 42-29 including the 1-4 record to start this season. More information to come later.
UPDATE: In an 82 game basketball season, the first five games don't really matter a whole lot—except when they really, really do. And for the Lakers, who gained two future Hall of Famers in Steve Nash and Dwight Howard this offseason, the pressure was on to make sure they started off well. Obviously they haven't—Nash has only played one full game, Howard and Kobe Bryant are both nursing injuries, and the team has looked lousy.
According to Yahoo, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak made a case to Lakers owner Jerry Buss and executive vice president Jim Buss to give Brown more time before deciding to fire him. Brown also pleaded his case directly to them, to no avail.
Brown probably deserved a little more time to try to make things work. As Deadspin put it, "Teams that have as many superstars and egos as the Lakers do take some time to come together. Remember when the Miami Heat started off with a 9-8 record the first season that LeBron James and Chris Bosh came aboard? That team turned out OK."
Support for LAist comes from
Assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff will serve as interim coach for Friday night's game against the Warriors. As for who might replace Brown, Yahoo and CBS's Ken Berger both are saying that former Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni is a "prominent name" in internal discussions. Two major problems with that: D'Antoni recently had knee surgery, and won't be mobile for a bit; and his "seven seconds or less" offense would make Nash the court leader, something which Bryant might not be too happy about.
And if there's one thing any Lakers coach needs to do, it's to keep Kobe happy. And anybody who has been watching knows that Kobe has been very visually unhappy. And according to Howard, his frustrations are rubbing off on the whole team: "A lot of the guys look at me and Kobe and they feed off us, so we have to do a better job of keeping our frustrations on the inside and just playing through it so our teammates won’t get down on themselves."
There is also, of course, the tantalizing possibility of trying to lure Phil Jackson out of retirement for one more shot at a championship. But the main takeaway from this ignominious end to Brown's coaching tenure in LA? You really can't come back from the Kobe death stare:
UPDATE 12:20 PM: Here is Mike Brown's official statement:
“I have great respect for the Buss family and the Lakers’ storied tradition and I thank them for the opportunity they afforded me. I have a deep appreciation for the coaches and players that I worked with this past year and I wish the organization nothing but success as they move forward.”
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist