So how do the L.A. Lakers players feel about the hiring of Mike Brown as their new head coach?
Derek Fisher Tweeted this: “Will miss Phil but excited to start a new chapter under Mike Brown. Looking forward to a different style and energy!!”
Although Kobe Bryant, Fisher and Andrew Bynum originally campaigned for Brian Shaw to take the reins from Phil Jackson, the players appear to have accepted the choice by Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
Brown becomes the 22nd coach in Lakers’ history and is expected to take home a deal worth $18.25 million over four years after having great success with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Brown won more games behind the bench than any other coach in Cleveland but never was able to take home a title even with a superstar like LeBron James on the roster.
Brown led the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2007 and added two other deep runs into the Eastern Conference finals. His overall record is 272-138.
The Lakers won back-to-back championships until this year when they were swept 4-0 in a playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. That abrupt ending created an underachieving feel in Los Angeles and led to Jackson walking away, for certain this time.
Jackson will be a hard act to follow to say the least but after winning 11 NBA Championships including two separate “three-peats” while with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC