Ahead of the 2020 Toyko Olympics, the leadership of the Nigerian Basketball Federation has appointed Mike Brown as the new head coach of the men`s national basketball team, DTigers.
Prior to his appointment, the 49-year- old coach was the associate head coach of the NBA team, Golden State Warriors .
Confirming his appointment to The Undefeated, Mike Brown expressed his delight joining the Nigerian team;
“I am honoured and humbled that Musa Kida and the Nigerian Basketball Federation have given me this opportunity. The Nigerian Basketball Federation has been very professional and organised throughout the vetting process. They want to continue to build a world-team and organisation on and off the court.”
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Mike Brown will replace Coach Alex Nwora who was appointed as head in 2017 and who was in charge of the team during the 2017 FIBA Afrobasket, the World Cup African qualifiers, and the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Alex Nwora will support Mike Brown as an assistant.
Mike Brown`s immediate responsibility will be to put a team together and get them ready ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics which begin on Friday, 24 July in Tokyo, Japan.
“I have learned that the vision is to provide the team with the necessary resources to compete at the highest level. Their commitment will enable players and coaches to focus their energy on competing at the highest possible level every time we step on the basketball court.”
Mike Brown`s record includes leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the franchise`s first NBA Finals in 2007 and winning the NBA Coach of the Year in 2009. He was the head coach of the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010, and also during the 2013-14 season. He coached the Lakers in 2011-12, and led the Golden State Warriors to a 11-0 record while Steve Kerr was away due to his back surgery during the 2016-17 playoffs.
The 2020 Summer Olympics will be the team`s third consecutive appearance. In the two appearances so far – London 2012 and Rio 2016, the team only won one game each and failed to advance from the group stage. Mike Brown`s goal will be to improve on that performance.
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COMMENTS
This is a great hire by Nigeria Basketball. Mike Brown is a well respected and accomplished coach!
What happened to Nwora? So he qualified us only to be replaced.
See original African ‘senti-mentality’
A team is trying to meet international standards and you are faulting them for raising the ante’…cant’ shout Biko
mike Brown was hired as an upgrade to Nwora and Nwora will be his assistant then learn a thing two from his wealth of experience
@junior Nwora is assisting him, this is a great hire, Nwora will learn from him