LA coach Mike Brown as the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers play NBA basketball, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Tom Smart, Deseret News
The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Mike Brown, according to a report from ESPN sources on Friday morning.
After high-profile acquisitions in the offseason that brought All-Star center Dwight Howard and former MVP point guard Steve Nash to Los Angeles, the Lakers stumbled out of the starting gates this season. Their most recent loss came Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, where they fell to the Jazz, 95-86.
That result gave the Lakers a 1-4 record on the short season. They were also 0-8 in the preseason.
After the Jazz game, Lakers star Kobe Bryant expressed frustration at his team's performance, though he did not single out Brown as the source of the trouble.
Rumors have connected legendary Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan to the Lakers since before the season started, but Sloan has not spoken on the topic.
In the meantime, one of the Lakers' assistant coaches will likely serve as an interim coach.
Email: lshumway@desnews.com; Twitter: TheShums
Read more about the Lakers firing Mike Brown on ESPN.com.
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Layton is an assistant editor for DeseretNews.com. He also helps manage the organization's social media presence and writes sports articles. Prior to his internship and employment at the Deseret News, Layton received a more ..
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If Sloan goes to the Lakers, I will lose what little faith I have left in humanity.
I just thought of a new advertising slogan for the Jazz.
Utah Jazz: Losing to us gets you fired
I don't know if Jerry Sloan would ever consider coaching the Lakers, but if he would, I'll give some unsolicited advice. Don't do it! It's my understanding that Jerry left the Jazz because he felt that the ownership was willing More..