Knicks' Mike Brown Ices Out Former Team After Brutal Loss

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown's complicated relationship with the Sacramento Kings, his former employers, isn't getting any easier to unravel.

The 2x Coach of the Year rebounded pretty nicely for himself since the Kings suddenly fired him in the last week of 2024, with Knicks eventually choosing to end their own dramatic head coaching search in hiring the experienced veteran. He knew he'd have to encounter his old Sacramento home eventually, though, and spent the days leading up to his first Kings visit as a New Yorker preaching his desires to keep moving forward.

Unfortunately for Brown, he ran into the Kings during their hottest stretch of the season. They bottom-dwellers won back-to-back games against western playoff teams in preparing to host the Knicks, and disposed of the eastern contenders in a convincing 112-101 victory.

Brown was visibly displeased following the upset, walking off of the court postgame without addressing protege-turned-Brown replacement Doug Christie or any of his former players.

Mike Brown leaves the floor without any interactions with Doug Christie or any other Kings players. pic.twitter.com/t6uBK1f6Lr
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 15, 2026

Grappling with the Failed Revenge Plot

The Knicks can't afford to be throwing away games, either. They're still regarded as one of the best teams that the Eastern Conference has to offer, but this marks the sixth loss in their last eight amidst a brutal start to 2026.

Brown let his frustration boil over in speaking to media following the defeat, having much bigger issues to address than the sub-40% shooting affair from the field. Add this to another in a long line of sub-par outings out of Karl-Anthony Towns in continuing his down-season, including one choice plays that he appeared to sit out completely.

Mike Brown to @JLEdwardsIII on KAT play: "When you fall down you gotta get up…That wasn't the only play, there were a handful we did that, but there was no sense of urgency…it was a 5-point swing…we watched at halftime & he didn't even cross halfcourt. That sums up our night" pic.twitter.com/eEs1N5vae4
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 15, 2026

The Kings, conversely, thrived in their Knicks matchup. New York's underwhelming team defense continues to raise long-term questions in slipping into the bottom half of the league's rankings, and they don't even have Jalen Brunson to blame that one. He played fewer than five minutes before tweaking his ankle, costing him from appearing throughout the remainder of the game. He was reportedly functional enough to go home without a walking boot or crutches, but that couldn't help the Knicks finally string together consecutive wins.

Brown won't have to wait long for his next opportunity at getting his lick in against Sacramento, with a rematch between the two sides scheduled for Jan. 26. He'd better hope Brunson's ankle is feeling better by then, because the relationship between coach and franchise appears much rockier than either has let on.

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