Mike Brown Fired By Lakers

Getting the “death stare” from Kobe Bryant is never a good thing, as Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown found out today.

The team fired Brown, a former NBA Coach of the Year, today after getting off to a 1-4 start in the 2012-2013 NBA season. The Lakers’ squad will be coached by Bernie Bickerstaff for tonight’s home game against the Golden State Warriors, but will conduct a “national search” for a permanent head coach according to the Los Angeles Times.

According to ESPN, Lakers management originally planned to evaluate Brown over the upcoming six-game homestand, but instead came to the conclusion that it was best to cut him loose now. Mike Brown was in year two of a four-year, $18 million coaching contract with the Lakers. As recently as yesterday, Brown had received a vote of confidence from management (which is often the kiss of death).

Yesterday, Kobe Bryant laughed off the death stare talk, according to the San Jose Mercury News, insisting that “I’ve been [Mike Brown’s] biggest supporter.

Mike Brown coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010. Brown’s Cavaliers led by LeBron James made the NBA finals in 2007 but were swept in four by the San Antonio Spurs. As an NBA head coach, his overall won-loss record is 476-313. In his first year running the Lakers, Brown’s record was 41-25, culminating in a second round playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

[Image credit: Keith Allison]

Watch an ESPN report on the breaking news of Mike Brown’s firing as head coach of the underachieving Los Angeles Lakers:

Watch Kobe Bryant give Mike Brown the death stare Wednesday night during the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ loss to the Utah Jazz:

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