Pacers assistant set to become LeBron's next NBA coach
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-31 10:00

Mike Brown, who has spent the past two years as an Indiana Pacers assistant coach, reportedly has been hired as the next coach of the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Indianapolis Star, Akron Beacon-Journal and Cleveland's Plain Dealer all cited unnamed sources in reporting that the 35-year-old defensive specialist will be the next man to guide the fate of star LeBron James.

Despite spectacular moves by the gifted second-year playmaker, the Cavaliers failed to reach the NBA playoffs, losing a tie-breaker to New Jersey for the final Eastern Conference berth.

Mike Brown, who has spent the past two years as an Indiana Pacers assistant coach, reportedly has been hired as the next coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers and their star LeBron James, seen here in March 2005. [AFP]

The coaching choice will be critical to keeping James a member of the Cavaliers. He can explore free agent offers after another season.

Brown, backing up Indiana's Rick Carlisle, would be the second-youngest coach in the NBA to New Jersey's Lawrence Frank. He has spent 13 seasons in the league and last year was interviewed for coaching jobs in Toronto and Atlanta.

In three seasons as an assistant coach at San Antonio, Brown was part of the Spurs' success, including the 2003 NBA crown. Brown also worked at Denver and Washington.

The Cavaliers fired Paul Silas last season and Brendan Malone served as an interim to complete the season.

Detroit coach Larry Brown has denied he will take over as the Cavaliers' director of basketball operations during the Pistons' still-ongoing NBA playoff run.

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