NBA
NBA: Kings’ Mike Brown coach of the year
According to ESPN, Sacramento Kings basketball coach Mike Brown, the first trainer to get them to playoffs after 17 years, was named NBA Coach of the Year.
The team from California finished the regular part of the season in third place in the Western Conference table and, after 17 years, reached the playoffs. They will compete against the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the first round.
The National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) has officially announced that Mike Brown is the distinguished recipient of the esteemed Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award for 2023. The NBCA recognizes Coach Mike Brown for his outstanding coaching abilities, remarkable leadership, and significant contributions to basketball. Previously, Phoenix basketball coach Monty Williams won this award two years in a row.
NBA:
As per the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA), votes were cast for the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award, and five esteemed Head Coaches received recognition. In addition to Coach Mike Brown, who was awarded the honor, the following Head Coaches also received votes:
- Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks.
- Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics.
- Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks.
Mike Brown accolades
Under the exceptional leadership of coach Mike Brown, who took on the role of Head Coach for the Kings in his inaugural season, the team achieved a remarkable milestone. The Kings secured their first playoff berth since 2006, thus ending the longest playoff drought in the history of the NBA. This accomplishment is historic in basketball and marks the longest active non-playoff streak across all professional sports in North America.
“Congratulations to Mike Brown on one of the greatest coaching jobs we’ve ever seen in this league,” said Indiana Pacers Head Coach and NBCA President Rick Carlisle. “He completely changed the attitude and vibe of the Kings franchise and fan base, launching them into an amazing new era of success.”
Mike Brown thanked everyone involved in his statement: “Receiving this award from my peers is especially meaningful and an honor that I truly embrace,” said Sacramento Kings Head Coach Mike Brown. “We have an incredible group of head coaches in the NBA, all of whom deserve to be recognized for their leadership as they execute their craft at the highest level every day. This award is incredibly special in my first year with the Kings. It is a reflection of the caliber of men that Monte McNair and Wes Wilcox have assembled and who I have absolutely loved coaching. I also want to recognize our medical staff, who have been an integral ingredient to our success and worked tirelessly to maximize our players’ health throughout the year. Additionally, our coaching staff has been invaluable in supporting our organization and working with my obsession for perfection. Lastly, this recognition is especially meaningful to me because it honors the legacy of Michael Goldberg – a personal friend who worked tirelessly for NBA coaches, always doing so with integrity and class.”
With Coach Brown’s expert guidance, the Kings underwent a remarkable transformation despite being a relatively young team and emerged as one of the most formidable offensive powerhouses in the NBA. The team’s offensive capacity was excellent, as they led the league in scoring, averaging an impressive 120.7 points per game (ppg). Also, the Kings topped the NBA in offensive rating, with an astounding rating of 118.6 for the season.
This marked the highest offensive rating recorded in a single season since the inception of this statistic in the NBA.