After engaging in contract extension negotiations, the Sacramento Kings and coach Mike Brown remain with a gulf on a potential deal and have tabled talks, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Brown has one guaranteed season left on his original four-year contract, and there has been hope of reaching a deal that would avoid him entering the final year of his contract in the 2024-2025 season, sources said.
Brown led the Kings on a return to the Western Conference playoffs for the first time in 18 years in 2023-2024, earning NBA Coach of the Year honors. Sacramento was 48-34 and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference a year ago – eventually losing a seven-game opening-round series to the Golden State Warriors.
The Kings were a No. 9 seed this season, beating the Warriors in the Play-In Tournament before the New Orleans Pelicans eliminated Sacramento. Under Brown, the Kings are 94-70 (.573) in two seasons.
Brown is a two-time NBA coach of the year – including with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009. Brown had two stops with the Cavaliers as head coach (305-187, .620) and a season-plus as the Los Angeles Lakers coach (42-29, .592).