[recap] Brown resigns

看板Grizzlies作者nfsnfs (發燒...)時間21年前 (2004/11/26 16:26)推噓1(1推 0噓 0→)

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Brown resigns Coach attributes decision to unexpected health problems By Ron Higgins Contact November 26, 2004 Hubie Brown, named the NBA Coach of the Year last season when he guided the Grizzlies to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, retired unexpectedly Thursday. Brown, 71, who just began the final year of a three-year, $11 million contract, said in a prepared statement that he attributed his decision to "unexpected health-related issues." Assistant Lionel Hollins has been named interim head coach, starting with tonight's game for the 5-7 Grizzlies at Minnesota. Hollins was told by Jerry West, the team's president of basketball operations, that he'd coach at least through the weekend, which includes Saturday's home game against Dallas. Considered possible replacements for Brown are former NBA head coaches George Karl, Mike Fratello and Eric Musselman. Karl and Fratello are TV analysts. Musselman has the most recent coaching stint, having been fired by Golden State last season after a two-year record of 75-89. He had a 37-45 record last year. Brown, 83-85 in his Grizzlies' career, and West, the team's president of basketball operations, will hold a press conference this morning at 11 at FedExForum. Brown and West did not return phone calls Thursday night. The Grizzlies did not practice on Thursday because of Thanksgiving. They boarded their private jet for a 6:45 p.m. flight to Minneapolis. Brown got on the plane before takeoff, told the team of his decision, then left. He'll likely return home to Atlanta after today's press conference. Grizzlies' majority owner Michael Heisley said Brown had an arrangement to walk away from the team whenever he determined. "The deal he's been working under is whenever Hubie doesn't want to go forward, that's the way it's going to be," Heisley said. "We're not going to try to talk him out of it." "Quite frankly, last year he had a couple of health issues. He wanted to see if he could try once more. He loves coaching and he loves this team. He's had a huge, huge impact." There has been no doubt about that. The Grizzlies had gotten off to an 0-8 start under Sidney Lowe in 2002-03, the team's second year in Memphis, when West hired Brown on Nov. 12, 2002. Though Brown hadn't been an NBA coach in 15 years, he had remained close to the game, teaching clinics around the world, and as a TV analyst with TNT where he was nominated for two sports Emmys. And because Brown is considered one of the best teachers of the game, West considered him the ideal coach for a young team badly needing direction. "This franchise is by far better from the leadership and guidance of Hubie Brown, and we will be forever grateful to Hubie," West said in a prepared statement. "Hubie has helped this team and organization receive the respect and stature it deserved. On a personal note, I had an incredible working relationship with him during our short time together, and his legacy will be felt by all of us." Brown showed the Griz the way to respectability. Going against conventional NBA thinking, he installed a 10-man rotation that called for mass substitutions and even distribution of playing time. It not only promoted team basketball, but it was the style the Grizzlies had to use to win without any superstars. As West continued to add new pieces through trades and free agency, such as Mike Miller from Orlando, James Posey from Houston and Bonzi Wells from Portland, Brown worked his magic. The team's 28-54 record in 2002-03 was a mere warmup for last year's stunning 50-32 record, a performance considered one of the most remarkable achievements in NBA history because the franchise was so awful in its first six seasons in Vancouver. To a man, Brown's players have believed in him from day one, because of his simplistic, no-nonsense approach and remarkable attention to detail. Pau Gasol said, "There's nothing that Hubie hasn't seen, he has an answer for everything." Posey said, "If you sit down and think about it, Hubie's always right." Shane Battier called Brown "the most energetic coach I've ever played for." Though the Grizzlies were swept 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, it still couldn't detract from some of last year's most memorable moments. It was Brown's decision to return this season. He fainted briefly during a Dec. 27 game last season, but insisted it was nothing serious. In his released statement on Thursday, Brown called his health problem a situation "unforeseen and absolutely non-existent at the beginning of the season." Now, West has to go shopping for a coach, and Heisley said it's West's call. "Whoever comes next will be Jerry's decision," Heisley said. "I wasn't part of the decision to hire Hubie and I won't be part of the next one." Ron Higgins: 529-2525 Columnist Geoff Calkins and reporter Ronald Tillery contributed to this story. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 210.58.20.85