With only one win in the first five games of the 2012-13 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers decided to part ways with head coach Mike Brown.
Although the firing seemed to be a foregone conclusion, the new-look roster with the Princeton offense that Brown had brought in not exactly firing on all cylinders right out of the gate, quite a few people were shocked at the Lakers’ front office cutting Brown loose so early in the season.
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One of the most notable responses around the league to Brown’s firing was from another recently fired head coach in Stan Van Gundy. The outspoken Van Gundy said the following about the Lakers letting Brown go on Friday via Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel:
Former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy called the Lakers’ firing of Mike Brown on Friday, “the most ridiculous firing in the history of the NBA.”
After going through the “Dwightmare” with the Orlando Magic last season, Van Gundy was clearly unhappy and knew his time was up in Orlando. Once fired, Van Gundy has been in no rush to land another NBA gig and for the time being is unemployed.
It comes as no surprise that Van Gundy would make a statement like this considering his history. After ugly divorces with the Miami Heat and Magic, Van Gundy is an expert on the subject of being fired as a head coach in the league for all the wrong reasons.
It’s hard to argue that Brown being fired wasn’t justified after such a disappointing start to a season filled with title-contending aspirations, but Van Gundy apparently believes it’s ridiculous enough to be considered the worst firing in NBA history.
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Video: Mike Brown Fired, Howard Wants Phil Jackson
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