Mike Brown wins Lakers jackpot
By Nicholai R. Roska
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 26 May 2011
Mike Brown.
WE HAVE a winner. In the sweepstakes that is the Lakers coaching search, Mike Brown owns the lucky ticket.
ESPN broke the news late Wednesday that the Los Angeles Lakers will name Brown the 22nd head coach in the history of the storied franchise. Brown is expected to sign a contract in the coming days, and he will be paid a king's ransom -- $18.25 million for four years.
Megastar Kobe Bryant, who has publicly endorsed longtime Lakers assistant Brian Shaw to inherit Phil Jackson's vacated job, won't be expected to do any cartwheels to celebrate this recent hiring. But given Brown's impressive track record, Bryant probably won't be sulking, either.
In his five-year stint (2005-2009) as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 41-year old Brown accumulated a won-lost record of 272-138. He guided the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals --- a quest that was thwarted by the San Antonio Spurs --- and was named NBA Coach of the Year in the 2008-2009 season.
With the likes of Jeff Van Gundy and Rick Adelman on the free agent market, it can be argued that Brown is not the best coaching mind availble . Heck, Mike might not be the best Brown available after Larry and Hubie.
But the Lakers are hoping that Mike Brown's past success and defensive mindset will serve the purple-and-gold well.
Prior to landing his big break in Cleveland, Brown had served as assistant coach to Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlise and Gregg Poppovich of the San Antonio Spurs. In other words, Brown didn't just pluck hoops lessons from a basketball manual. He learned from the best.
"He's a great coach," ex-Cav turned Miami Heat LeBron James told reporters Wednesday afternoon as news of the celebrated hire filtered around the NBA.
Brown doesn't have neither the flair nor the charm of the Zen Master. And he doesn't use the Triangle, an offense that is so ingrained in the fabric of the Lakers attack.
But if Brown can duplicate his success in Cleveland and make Kobe a believer, he might just be a good fit. (NRR)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Nicholai R. Roska.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 18 Jul 2025PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Fri, 18 Jul 2025Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 18 Jul 2025Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 18 Jul 2025The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 18 Jul 2025Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 17 Jul 2025More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
By Leo Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
Thu, 17 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS CONGRATULATES SUBRIEL MATIAS ON BECOMING THE WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Thu, 17 Jul 2025Gaisano Grand Cup Season 20 opens August 3
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025