Yesterday, after two years at the helm of the Charlotte Bobcats, Larry Brown stepped down from his final head coaching stop.? Of course, he famously made that same? assertion in his introduction as the Clippers head coach–in 1991.
He’s a lot like James Bond.? He rides through town on a mission, everyone falls in love with him and by the next movie, he’s found a new love interest and it’s like the previous film in the series never happened.
There’s a reason Larry Brown has had more jobs in the last two decades than Jay Pharaoh has impressions in his repertoire and fills out job applications in the morning like most people do sudoku or crossword puzzles in the newspaper.
At his first head coaching job at Davidson College, Brown went 0-0 as head coach after quitting in his first month to take a coaching job in the ABA.? This? was a precursor for his habit of stepping out.? His memoirs should be entitled, “The Grass is Always Greener”[On The Other Side]
Since 1978, he’s had 12 coaching stops over the course of 38 years and on multiple occasions has been caught looking for his next job while still employed. Even Tiger Woods would be disgusted.
Larry Brown’s burned enough bridges on his way out of town to end up on the TSA’s No-Fly List.? In 1981, Brown accepted the University of Kansas’ head coaching job towards the end of the NBA regular season.? He was dismissed from the playoff bound, New Jersey Nets with six games left in the regular season.
On his way out the door in Indiana, Brown once told reporters, “Reggie Miller isn’t a great player.”
Since winning his first NBA championship with the same blue collar philosophy he’s preached since His Airness sat in a high chair, his legacy has taken repeated blows.
One month after coming within a game of his second NBA Championship, Brown went out for a smoke one night, flirted with the New York Knicks and a week later had an office in Madison Square Garden.? Two months earlier, during the Conference Finals, he was rumored to be in discussions to become the Cleveland Cavaliers next president.
However, after tumultuous 23-59 campaign which was actually worse than their final record dictated, Brown was fired by New York and replaced with Isiah Thomas.
In Charlotte, Larry Brown’s reputation and Tar Heel connection left him with unparalleled authority in personnel decisions.? Three years ago, Michael Jordan was intent on drafting 7 foot center, Brooke Lopez, however, Larry Brown’s dissatisfaction with point guard Raymond Felton led to Brown lobbying hard for undersized Texas combo guard D.J. Augustin.? Three years later, Brooke Lopez is an All-Star and one of the best post scorers in the League.
I’m sure Pistons fans are grateful for the championship Brown did bring to Detroit, however, the mediocrity they’re currently mired in could have been mitigated by Carmelo Anthony’s presence.? Darko Milicic’s disappointment may have cost them? title or two.? While it was Joe Dumars that selected Darko “Slim Shady”, Darko blames Brown for his disappointing career.
?What changed me was Larry Brown,? Milicic said of the former Pistons coach. ?He is a guy who doesn?t understand anything, a guy who can?t understand what kind of player you are. Even if I made a shot, he?d tell me it was not a good shot.
?That took my mind off basketball. I got frustrated and wondered, If they weren?t going to put me in the game, why was I [in Detroit]? So I started thinking of stupid stuff and began not caring about the game, not trying to get better.?
Basically, Darko accused Brown of doing exactly to his confidence what his owner, Jordan did to Kwame Brown.
Brown also played a central role in the most 2004 Olympic team which finished 3rd. Besides the third place finish, Brown clashed with the team’s stars and refused to give minutes to a trio of rookies named Lebron, D-Wade and Carmelo.
Brown has only accumulated a .548 winning percentage and one NBA championship.? He may be a great basketball mind but his legacy rings hollow.? He’s a basketball genius who can’t relate to people or adjust to personalities.
I’d like to think he’s done with his nomadic lifestyle, but I was seemingly sure of the same thing 3 years ago after James Dolan and the Knicks tossed him out of the city.? As I always say, history has OCD, and tends to repeat himself.? He should of walked away after his masterpiece with the Pistons.? Instead, he couldn’t resist the urge to pick up another clipboard and tarnish his legacy twice.? He’ll be back. Unfortunately.
