Why KD considers Brown, Kings to be a ‘perfect pairing'

Share

The Kings put the rest of the NBA on notice Tuesday night in an eye-opening 153-121 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Superstar Kevin Durant found himself on the wrong end of that statement.

Coach Mike Brown has something brewing in Sacramento, and Durant, the four-time scoring champion, is taking note.

“I think [Brown] is getting a lot out of that team," Durant said after the game. "They got a lot of guys that can play real minutes on any NBA team. He’s got 10, 11 guys that can do that. When you step into a situation like that, you got two All-Star caliber players in [Domantas] Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. That’s a great team to build around."

Brown and Durant arrived at the Golden State Warriors' doorstep together in the summer of 2016 as an assistant coach under Steve Kerr and another superstar alongside Steph Curry. It marked a return to the league for Brown after he was fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers following the 2013-14 NBA season. Durant shocked the basketball world by signing with the Warriors after nine seasons in Oklahoma City.

Together, the two won a pair of titles over the next three years before Durant packed his bags for Brooklyn.

"Great choice by Mike," Durant said. "It’s great by Sacramento to give Mike a chance because he’s been a part of a championship group for the last six, seven years. It’s a perfect pairing for him."

Brown is known as a defensive-minded coach, but Sacramento put on an offensive display to remember Tuesday night.

The Kings shot 59.6 percent from the floor and knocked down 20 3-pointers en route to 153 points, the second-highest total since the franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985.

Terence Davis led the way with 31 points on seven 3-pointers while also adding nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

“We had great intentions. They made shots," Durant said. "I mean, that’s demoralizing. You see teams making shots. It’s not like we didn’t try. They were just better than us on the offensive side of the ball. I felt like we got a lot of open shots too. I wouldn’t say it was just lack of effort or guys didn’t care. It was just that they were better.”

Through 13 games, the Kings are 7-6. They now own the eighth-best record in the Western Conference and all the momentum in the world as a 7-2 tear has erased all memories from their 0-4 start.

RELATED: NBA Twitter goes wild after Kings' blowout win over Nets

“All those players in the locker room deserve it," Brown said. "I’m telling you, they’ve been busting their behind and you local guys know, because you’ve seen a little bit and you’ve heard me talk about it. I heard the commissioner was in the building, too. To have him in the building and see Sacramento and see the work that those guys have put in and then on top of that to feel the fans, is extremely exciting for me.

"I’m proud of the guys in the locker room, and I’m excited for the city of Sacramento.”

The red-hot Kings will try to continue riding that momentum Thursday night when they host the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 Center.

Contact Us