Report: Brown wants longer-term Kings commitment at market rate originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Mike Brown has brought a lot of success to Sacramento since becoming Kings coach, breaking the team’s 16-season NBA playoff drought and bringing a sense of stability to the franchise.
And now the 54-year-old is reportedly keen to be rewarded for his contributions.
Brown’s four-year contract, which he signed ahead of the 2022-2023 NBA season, includes a mutual option for the fourth season, The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Anthony Slater reported Monday, citing league sources, suggesting the Kings coach came into expansion area.
And Brown “desires a longer-term commitment at his market rate” from Sacramento, Amick and Slater also reported, citing league sources. In addition to being a four-time champion as an assistant, the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year has helped the Kings reach a level of significance they haven’t seen in years, both financially and performance-wise.
Still, he has yet to win an NBA title as a head coach — something some coaches who recently reset that market have done. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is making $17.5 million annually after signing a lucrative extension this season, while San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is making $16 million annually after his own deal. However, Detroit Pistons coach Monty Williams has yet to win a title in such a role and brings in $13 million per year.
While it’s safe to assume that Brown could also command a double-digit annual salary if the Kings were to extend him, Amick and Slater reported, citing team sources, that ownership will require a “wait and see approach,” and that Sacramento would can base the decision around unique results – such as the Kings’ most recent NBA Play-In Tournament appearance.
Brown’s side, meanwhile, sees a long list of achievements that support a new deal with market value, according to Amick and Slater, including improved optics around the team and an improved defense that promises longevity for the team’s recent success.
It remains to be seen whether the Kings will actually grant Brown’s wish and reward the coach with a long-term contract.
What remains clear, however, is Brown’s immediate impact on the once-struggling franchise, as well as what he could help the team accomplish in the future.
