This isn’t something new. Coach Mike Brown has had a series of lamenting pressers in recent times. Courtesy: the Sacramento Kings haven’t been living up to their expectations. However, tonight was an entirely different game. Taking on the Detroit Pistons after the Christmas break, the Kings had entire control over the game.

Except for the last quarter.

But they still had a chance to overcome it in the last possession. However, De’Aaron Fox made a costly error, leaving the team on the wrong side of the finish line.

Fox undoubtedly had the best night in the Kings fold, knocking down 26 points with 6 rebounds. Unfortunately, he ended up becoming the enemy number 1 in the same game. With 10 seconds left on the clock, the Kings were up by three. They had only one job which was to guard the team tightly near the perimeter. Fox took the job more seriously and ended up giving a shooting foul to Jaden Ivey from the three-point line.

Adding salt to the wound, Ivey’s awkward shot went in and helped him with a four-point play. Guess what? The Kings blew the game 114-113 loss. Mike Brown speaking at the presser, agitated yet calmly said, “Jaden shouldn’t have had an opportunity to even shoot a 3 because… we told our guys if somebody catches in their backs to the basket, foul them and they dribbled for 8 seconds and we didn’t foul them so that’s the first thing.”

Following that, he called out De’Aaron Fox, saying, “You should be hugged up to your man at the 3-point line. Everybody should, and why there was a closeout but Fox, I’m not sure. I gotta go back and watch the tape. But for sure 100% we told our guys, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, stay on the high side, stay on the high side.”

Above all, speaking of the loss, he added, “I’m disappointed… Maybe a loss like this helps us. I don’t know, but we gotta wake up.” Apart from calling out Fox, Mike Brown dropped a request for his players.

After calling out De’Aaron Fox, Mike Brown makes two requests

Earlier, Mike Brown had already called out his players for not sticking to the plan. Speaking at the post-game presser after losing against the Nets, he said, “We have to embrace what the game plan is, and this is two nights in a row too we come out and we can’t, we don’t execute the first play, the right way.” 

Even De’Aaron Fox sided with Brown and called out his own teammates. Tonight, he has failed to stick to the plan. Amid this demoralizing situation, Brown had made two requests to his teammates.

Firstly, he expects mental toughness. The 54-year-old pointed out the players’ intent to get help from refs instead of toughing it out with the Pistons. He added, “We got to have some form of mental toughness.” 

Secondly and finally, the coach wanted the players to “Wake up” before it’s too late. Next up, the team faces the Lakers on Saturday. Will Brown’s word have any effect on the locker room? Let us know in the comments.