Cavaliers name Brown as new coach

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AFP) –

Mike Brown, pictured in Los Angeles on November 2, 2012, was named coach of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, returning to the post he held from 2005 to 2010 in a five-season run that saw the Cavaliers reach the NBA Finals.

Mike Brown was named coach of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, returning to the post he held from 2005 to 2010 in a five-season run that saw the Cavaliers reach the NBA Finals.

Brown went 272-138 in that span, which also included the Cavaliers having superstar playmaker LeBron James in the lineup before he departed his home region club to join the Miami Heat, leading them to last year’s NBA crown.

The Cavaliers reached the 2007 NBA Finals under Brown, only to be swept by San Antonio. Brown was fired after Cleveland was eliminated in the second round of the 2010 NBA playoffs.

“I am thrilled to return to Cleveland to coach the Cavaliers,” Brown said in a statement. “The commitment ownership and management have shown in their efforts to build a successful team and organization is deep and I am excited to lead the team forward.

“Nothing would mean more to me and my family than to help bring success to this very special community and to all of our committed and loyal fans.”

Brown replaced Byron Scott, who took over after James’ departure and went 64-166 over three seasons, including 24-58 in the season that ended last week.

“I am more than excited about Mike Brown’s return,” Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. “Mike has done nothing but win in this league since he was a first-year assistant many years ago.

“He is going to instil a much-needed defensive-first philosophy in our young and talented team that is going to serve as our foundation and identity as we continue down the path of building the kind of franchise that competes at a championship level for many years to come.”

Brown, the 2009 NBA Coach of the Year with Cleveland, coached the Los Angeles Lakers to a 41-25 mark in the lockout-shortened 2011-2012 season and was fired after a 1-4 start into the campaign that just concluded.