Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone expressed his disapproval regarding the Sacramento Kings' decision to terminate Mike Brown from his position as head coach. In a recent interview, Malone remarked on the circumstances surrounding Brown's dismissal, stating, "They have practice this morning, he does his post-(practice) media, and he's in his car going to the airport to fly to L.A. And they call him on the phone. No class. No balls. That's what I'll say about that."

Malone initially expressed shock at the firing but later acknowledged that he should not have been surprised, attributing his reaction to the nature of the organization. He noted, "So I'm not surprised that Mike Brown got fired, because I got fired by the same person." Brown's departure follows a challenging stretch for the Kings, who are currently on a five-game losing streak. Assistant coach Doug Christie has taken over in an interim capacity.

Brown concluded his tenure in Sacramento with a record of 107-88, having led the team to its first playoff appearance in 16 years during the 2022-23 season, earning him unanimous 2023 Coach of the Year accolades. Despite a strong showing in his first two seasons, the Kings have struggled at the outset of Brown's third season, currently positioned at the No. 12 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 13-18. Malone, who was fired from the Kings in the 2014-15 season after coaching the team in the 2013-14 campaign, has since found success with the Nuggets, leading them to their first championship in 2023.