Source: Lakers Fire Brown

[r8rh8rmike]

Source: Lakers fire Mike Brown

Updated: November 9, 2012, 1:17 PM ET
ESPN.com news services

Lakers coach Mike Brown has been fired after a 1-4 start to the season, a source tells ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne.

It is not known yet who will take over for him, but a source indicated that one of assistant coaches Bernie Bickerstaff or Chuck Person will take over on an interim basis.

Sources had said earlier Friday that his job would be in jeopardy if the team did not perform well on its upcoming six-game homestand.

The Lakers have had a healthy Steve Nash in the lineup for only 1½ of their five games so far thanks to a leg injury, while fellow newcomer Dwight Howard has acknowledged that he's still recovering from the back surgery that brought a premature end to his 2011-12 campaign and knocked him out of the London Olympics. Kobe Bryant has also been playing through a foot ailment.

The Lakers are off to the worst start in the Western Conference despite carrying the league's largest payroll at just over $100 million, which would trigger an estimated luxury-tax bill at season's end of nearly $30 million.

The team has also been trying to institute a form of the Princeton offense, a system that relies on reads and ball sharing in order to take some offensive load off Bryant. The results have been mixed so far.

[r8rh8rmike]

This is one screwed up team. So much for the patience Kobe told Lakers fans to have. I guess it's a case of "do as I say, not as I do".

[laram0]

I'm glad Brown is gone. He never seemed like the right man for the job to begin with.

[r8rh8rmike]

I'm glad Brown is gone. He never seemed like the right man for the job to begin with.

I agree, but I don't think they're going to find the right man this season. The Lakers have put themselves in a tough situation.

I wonder if the guy who calls the shots in LA, Kobe, had anything to do with Brown getting fired.

[bruce4life]

Bring in Brian shaw.

[laram0]

I agree, but I don't think they're going to find the right man this season. The Lakers have put themselves in a tough situation.

I wonder if the guy who calls the shots in LA, Kobe, had anything to do with Brown getting fired.

Kobe is going to pull a Bill Russell, player coach.

[laram0]

Mike D'Antoni is the new man in charge. Showtime has already been used so we are going to need a new nickname because you know D'Antoni is all about offense!

[r8rh8rmike]

Mike D'Antoni is the new man in charge. Showtime has already been used so we are going to need a new nickname because you know D'Antoni is all about offense!

What did the Knicks call him??

[RAMarkable]

What did the Knicks call him??

Umm...You are so FIRED!?!?

I was hoping that Phil Jax would come back for another championship run. I remember this D'Antoni guy when he coached the Suns. The Lakers beat them regularly.

Defense wins championships as all Lakers fans know.

WHAT SAY YE?

[AvengerRam]

Mike Antoni!

No "D."