Lakers fire Mike Brown
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The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Mike Brown in the wake of a 1-4 start.
Brown, just beginning his second year at the helm, was informed of the decision on Friday morning.
"This was a difficult and painful decision to make," said Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak in a statement on Friday. "Mike was very hard-working and dedicated, but we felt it was in the best interest of the team to make a change at this time. We appreciate Mike's efforts and contributions and wish him and his family the best of luck."
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Assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff took over as interim coach for Friday's game against Golden State. The Lakers won, 101-77. The search for a full-time head coach will begin immediately.
The Lakers were winless in the preseason and lost their first three games of the regular season before their first victory -- a 108-79 triumph over winless Detroit on Sunday. After a 95-86 setback at Utah on Wednesday, rumors surrounding Brown's job status were rampant.
Brown guided the Lakers to a record of 41-25 during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, which ended with a loss to Oklahoma City in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
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The Lakers underwent a few changes in the offseason, most notably the August acquisition of center Dwight Howard from Orlando as part of a four-team, 12- player blockbuster. Los Angeles also picked up two-time MVP Steve Nash as a free agent.
Howard and Nash have been slowed by injuries early in the season, and there was also speculation that Brown and superstar Kobe Bryant didn't exactly see eye-to-eye.
Brown was tabbed as Phil Jackson's replacement in May 2011 and had three years remaining on a reported four-year, $18 million contract.
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"I have great respect for the Buss family and the Lakers' storied tradition and I thank them for the opportunity they afforded me," said Brown in a statement. "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."
Jackson's name has again come up for a potential third go-round with the Lakers. He spent five seasons as head coach from 1999-2004, then sat out a year before returning for a six-year run. The Lakers won five titles under Jackson's watch.
The Los Angeles Times said other long-term candidates for the high-profile position include former NBA head coaches Mike D'Antoni, Jerry Sloan and Nate McMillan.
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Former Lakers assistant Brian Shaw could also be in the mix. Shaw was apparently Bryant's choice as Jackson's replacement before Brown was hired.
Prior to joining the Lakers, Brown had a successful five-year run as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-10. He guided the LeBron James-led club to a record of 272-138 with playoff appearances each year. The Cavs reached the NBA Finals in the spring of 2007 and were swept by San Antonio.
Patience hasn't always been a Lakers' virtue when it comes to head coaches. Del Harris was fired just 12 games into the lockout-shortened 1999 season after a 6-6 start.