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SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Mike Brown can add another coaching award to his trophy case.
The Sacramento Kings head coach was named NBA Coach of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. Brown, who received all 100 votes to become the first unanimous winner of the award, led the Kings to their first playoff berth since 2006, ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history.
It’s the second time Brown has won the award. He previously received the honor in 2009 as the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach.
Brown has coached the Kings to an improbable turnaround this season. In his first year, Brown guided Sacramento to its first Pacific Division title since 2003. The Kings finished with a record of 48-34, an 18-game improvement from a year ago.
The Kings are in the playoffs for just the eleventh time in the 38 years since the franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985.
MORE KINGS: De’Aaron Fox voted NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year
AWARDS: Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. wins Defensive Player of the Year
NBA PLAYOFFS: Scores, schedules, matchups and predictions for first round
Under Brown, the Kings have transformed into one of the NBA’s most potent offenses. The Kings led the NBA in scoring (120.7), were second in field goal percentage (49.4) and third in assists per game (27.3).
“He’s brought a lot to us, not just coaching. Being able to have a culture shift. I feel like he’s flipped us around,” Kings All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox said during a “Kings Postgame Live” interview this season. “He got everybody to buy in from Day 1. That’s the reason we are where we are right now.”
Brown began his NBA coaching career as an assistant with the Washington Wizards in 1997. He also served as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs (2000–2003) and Indiana Pacers (2003–2005).
The Cavaliers gave Brown his first heading coaching opportunity in 2005. He was in Cleveland until 2010. He’s had coaching stops with the Los Angeles Lakers (2011–2012), back with the Cavaliers (2013–2014) and was the associate head coach with the Golden State Warriors (20163–2022) before the Kings hired him to be their head coach in May 2022.
Brown has compiled a 395-250 career coaching record.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
