Mike Brown was Jordi Fernandez's mentor in Sacramento, and the Nets' first-year coach was saddened to learn that the Kings fired his close friend on Friday.
Brown was named the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year, but was fired after the Kings started 13-18 this season.
“He's very good at what he does, in my opinion, one of the best players. I wouldn't be here without him,” Fernandez, who served as a Browns assistant coach from 2022-24, said before the Nets' 96-87 loss to the Spurs at Barclays Center. To me it's really sad news, and I don't like it. It's part of the job. Things can go one way, where a year and a half ago you think he was coach of the year, and now this situation happens.
“So I haven't been there the last few weeks or months, but Mike means a lot to me. Mike, like I said, is one of the best. And seeing this is something that is, as we can all say, part of the job. But I personally don't like it.”
Fernandez, a Spanish national, added that the 54-year-old Brown “has been taking me to the United States and working in the NBA for the past year.”
Ben Simmons He still has not played in either end of back-to-back games this season due to maintenance on a lower back injury.
Fernandez said he “won't answer” when he expects that restriction to be lifted for the three-time All-Star.
“But he is in great shape,” Fernandez added. “The good thing is we're going from a certain number of minutes to now and he's been playing about 30 minutes lately. You guys have seen his production, his assists, how aggressive he is, which is very good for the group. The next step is to play back to back, but we're not just going to do that.” To do that we will do it when we think his body is ready to deal with it, because that is the most important.”
Asked after he logged 29 minutes in Thursday's rematch in Milwaukee when he was expected to play on both ends of a back-to-back for the first time this season, Simmons replied: “Whatever they let me do, that's when I'm out.” there.”
Noah Clowney received a double technical foul in the fourth quarter and was ejected.
“They called a foul, I said something to the player. [The ref] “I think I was talking to him,” Clooney said. “He proceeded to call the technician, and then I said a few words, and then I got another technician.”
Noah Clowney received a double technical foul in the fourth quarter and was ejected.
“They called a foul, I said something to the player. [The ref] “I think I was talking to him,” Clooney said. “He proceeded to call the technician, and then I said a few words, and then I got another technician.”
Noah Clowney received a double technical foul in the fourth quarter and was ejected.
“They called a foul, I said something to the player. [The ref] “I think I was talking to him,” Clooney said. “He proceeded to call the technician, and then I said a few words, and then I got another technician.”
