The Sacramento Kings on Monday morning officially named Warriors lead assistant Mike Brown as their next head coach. Just minutes after the Kings made the hiring official, Steve Kerr reacted to the news.
He was at a loss for words when describing how much Brown means to him and the Warriors as a whole before expressing how happy he is for his friend and fellow coach.
"I don't even know where to begin," Kerr said after Warriors shootaround at Chase Center before Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies. "What Mike has done for me, for this organization in his six years here -- just an incredible contribution. He's an amazing coach, amazing friend and Sacramento made a great choice.
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"Thrilled for Mike and his family."
Brown was hired by the Warriors to be their lead assistant on July 4, 2016. He even served as their acting head coach when Kerr was ailed by a back issue. The Warriors went 13-0 in the 2016-17 playoffs with Brown taking over for Kerr, who eventually returned during those same playoffs. They went on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals and went 16-1 in the postseason -- good for the best winning percentage in NBA playoff history.
With the Warriors, Brown has been an invaluable and experienced coach, running their defense and playing a big role in their in-game rotations.
Kerr knows what a huge loss this will be for him and his coaching staff next season and beyond, but also couldn't be more proud to see him go.
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"It's a loss for us, but this is how it's supposed to work," Kerr said. "You want people who are really talented on your staff who can come in and contribute and have a great experience, and hopefully learn and grow at the same time. And then hopefully be able to advance careers and move on to something that that person wants."
The Kings are the third franchise that has named Brown as its head coach. He had two previous stints as the Cleveland Cavaliers' head coach and spent a season-plus as the Los Angeles Lakers' head coach. Brown led the Cavs to the NBA Finals in his second season ever as a head coach in the NBA, and two years later was named Coach of the Year with the Cavs after winning 66 games.
He also becomes the third straight former Warriors assistant to take over as Sacramento's head coach, following Luke Walton and Alvin Gentry.
Brown last was a head coach in the 2013-14 season when the Cavs went just 33-49 in his one-year second go with the franchise. That also happened to be LeBron James' last season in Miami before returning to Cleveland.
In his previous eight seasons as a head coach -- six in Cleveland and two in LA -- Brown has a 347-216 regular-season record, good for a .620 win percentage. He has also gone 42-29 in the playoffs, which is a .592 win percentage.
"Mike's ready to do this again," Kerr said. "He's excited and we're thrilled for him. Much deserved, he's a great choice."
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Kerr said it's too early to speculate who might eventually replace Brown on the Warriors' coaching staff. Assistant coach Kenny Atkinson also could be hired away as a head coach, just like Brown was. To note, both Walton and Gentry were in attendance at Chase Center on Saturday night for the Warriors' Game 3 win.
Brown will remain with the Warriors throughout the playoffs before making the short trip to Sacramento.
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