Nuggets' Malone says Kings showed 'no class' in firing Brown - ESPN

ORLANDO, Fla. — Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone didn't hold back in his reaction to the news of Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown's firing, ripping the team and owner Vivek Ranadive for exhibiting «no class.»

The Kings, off to a 13-18 start this season and mired in 12th place in the Western Conference, announced the firing Friday, calling it a «difficult decision.»

Malone is no stranger to the Kings, whom he coached for two seasons. He was fired by Ranadive in December 2014, and Brown was the sixth coach to hold that job in the decade since Malone's departure.

Malone said Brown's firing didn't surprise him because of «who he works for.»

«I'm not surprised that Mike Brown got fired, because I got fired by the same person,» Malone said. «And what really pissed me off about it was the fact that they lost [Thursday] night, fifth game in a row, I believe. Tough loss.… They had practiced this morning. He does his postgame media, and he's in his car going to the airport to fly to L.A. and they call him on the phone.

»No class, no balls. That's what I'll say about that."

Malone was among several NBA coaches who reacted with dismay over the news of Brown's firing.

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle addressed it to open his pregame media session before his team visited Boston on Friday night. He called the firing «shocking to me and I'm sure all the people in our profession.»

«I had the privilege of working with Mike when I was in Indiana coaching the first time,» said Carlisle, who also is longtime president of the National Basketball Coaches Association. «I view him as one of the standard bearers for integrity for our profession. And I'm just absolutely shocked that that decision was made.»

Orlando Magic coach Jamahl