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Sports

Mike Brown Hiring by Lakers Leaves Kobe Bryant 'Confused'

Brown coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010, winning Coach of the Year in 2009.

Fans across Laker Nation were caught somewhat by surprise on Wednesday when team owner Jerry Buss announced the hiring of former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. Among those surprised was Kobe Bryant.

Sources close to Bryant told the Times that the former MVP was “confused” by the decision.

In the weeks following Phil Jackson’s retirement, the All-Star guard had lobbied for Lakers Assistant Coach Brian Shaw to get the position, but according to Broderick Turner and Mike Bresnahan at the LA Times Lakers Blog, the team’s owners were intent on not consulting the players “on these matters.”

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After back-to-back championship seasons, Bryant and the Lakers were unceremoniously swept in the 2011 NBA Playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks earlier this month.

Brown served as the Cavs coach from 2005-2010, coaching LeBron James and a lackluster supporting cast to the NBA Finals in 2007. Reports indicate Brown will not keep Jackson’s famed Triangle offense.

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