Hollywood hype for Brown

Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2011 9:06 pm
By: AP

GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike Brown got fired a year ago for winning just about everything but a championship while coaching LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
And that’s still just a fraction of the pressure he’ll face in his new job in Hollywood.
The Los Angeles Lakers have reached an agreement in principle with Brown to succeed 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson, the team confirmed Wednesday in a release.
Brown will get a four-year deal worth roughly $18 million, a person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lakers hadn’t yet formally hired Brown.
“We’ve met with Mike and are very impressed with him,” said a statement issued by the Lakers. “In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days.”
Brown certainly doesn’t shy away from a coaching challenge.
After the Cavs dumped him following an otherwise successful five-year tenure, he’s moving to a storied franchise with a veteran superstar who’s only happy if they’re collecting titles in bunches.
Oh, and he’s replacing the coach with more rings than anybody in NBA history.
During an interview on ESPN during halftime of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, Brown said he already had exchanged text messages with Kobe Bryant, who had endorsed Jackson assistant coach Brian Shaw for the job.
Brown is “looking forward to getting to know Kobe and being able to work with him to go and get us a championship,” he said.
Published in The Messenger 5.26.11