Mike Brown was Jordi Fernandez's mentor during his time in Sacramento, and the Nets' first-year head coach was saddened to learn Friday that the Kings had fired his close friend.
Brown was named the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year but was fired after the Kings got off to a 13-18 start this season.
“He's very good at what he does and one of the best players in my opinion. I wouldn't be here without him,” said Brown, who served as Brown's associate head coach from 2022 to 2024. Fernandez spoke before the Nets' 96-87 loss to the Spurs at Barclays Center. “Obviously, this is really sad news for me and I don't like it. That's part of the business. Things can go one way and a year and a half ago he was the coach of the year. However, this situation is now occurring.
“So, even though I haven't been there the last few weeks, months, Mike has been very important to me. Like I said, Mike is one of the best players. And you see this. That's part of the business, as anyone can tell you, but I personally don't like it.
Fernandez, a native of Spain, added that Brown, 54, “bred me to the United States and made me work in the NBA all the way through last year.”
ben simmons This season, he has yet to play in back-to-back games at both ends due to maintenance due to a lower back injury.
Fernandez said he was “not going to answer” any predictions that restrictions would be lifted on the three-time All-Star.
“But he's doing very well,” Fernandes added. “The good thing is that he's gone from playing a certain amount of minutes to playing about 30 minutes these days. You've seen his performance, you've seen his assists, you've seen how aggressive he is. , that's very good for the group. The next step is to play back-to-back, but not just do it for the sake of it, and that his body is ready to handle it. I'm going to do it whenever I believe in it, because that's the most important thing. ”
Asked after logging 29 minutes in Thursday's come-from-behind win at Milwaukee when he would play both ends of back-to-back games for the first time this season, Simmons said, “No matter what they let me do. That's when I'll be sent off.” There. “
Noah Clowney was ejected after receiving a double technical foul in the fourth quarter.
“They called a foul and I said something to the player. [The ref] I thought I was talking to him,” Clowney said. “He started calling a technician. Then I said a few words and then he called another technician.”
Noah Clowney was ejected after receiving a double technical foul in the fourth quarter.
“They called a foul and I said something to the player. [The ref] I thought I was talking to him,” Clowney said. “He started calling a technician. Then I said a few words and then he called another technician.”
Noah Clowney was ejected after receiving a double technical foul in the fourth quarter.
“They called a foul and I said something to the player. [The ref] I thought I was talking to him,” Clowney said. “He started calling a technician. Then I said a few words and then he called another technician.”
