Brown cites lost spirit for retirement
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-27 14:43

The grind of the NBA finally got to Hubie Brown, who at 71 had neither the fervor for the job nor the good health needed to remain the coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Hubie Brown reacts to an official's call during the second half of their 91-87 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in this Jan. 17, 2004 photo. Brown said he stepped down as the coach of the Memphis Grizzlies for two reasons: He lost his spirit, and because of medical issues he wants kept private. [AP]

Brown called it quits just seven months after being selected Coach of the Year, citing the rigors of the day-to-day life in the league and a health issue he described as non-catastrophic.

"I need on a daily basis an energy and a stamina, and then with me it's a spirit. But the key is spirit. See, the spirit is what gives you the passion on a daily basis," he said in a 50-minute news conference in which every question received his typically lengthy answers.

"One day you wake up, you don't have that, and that's when you've got to understand that it's a time you've got to walk."

Lionel Hollins took over as interim coach, and team president Jerry West was vague as to how long Hollins might remain in the post. ESPN reported that Mike Fratello would accept the job.

In explaining his reasons, Brown pointed out that he had coached 188 games with the Grizzlies over slightly more than two years, which he equated to six years for a high school or college team.

The grind of seven-day workweeks and endless travel became more than he wanted to endure.

Brown led the Grizzlies to a franchise-best 50-32 record last season and the franchise's first playoff appearance.

He said his medical condition, which he did not detail, was something that developed three weeks ago. He had an extensive physical prior to this season before deciding to return.

"I've had things come up that your body gives you a warning sign, and you'll see. Until you get up there, you aren't going to understand it," Brown said.

Brown stepped down a day after the Grizzlies fell to 5-7 with a 93-84 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics. His career coaching record is 424-495, or 528-559 including ABA games.

West, who had hoped Brown would stick around for another year with a team that just moved into a new arena, said it will be tough for him to stay without Brown.

"My future will be decided when I feel like he feels now," said West, who came out of retirement himself in 2002 to take over the Grizzlies after 18 years as general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hearing that Brown had lost his spirit surprised New York Knicks coach Lenny Wilkens, who called him the embodiment of the sport.

"He'd rather talk basketball than eat," Wilkens said. Every conversation I've had with him, it's about the game."

Brown returned to coaching in 2002 after a 16-year break during which he became a highly regarded television analyst. He also coached the Atlanta Hawks from 1976-81 and the Knicks from 1982-86.

At every stop, Brown's teams won more games in his first full season than in the previous year. He leaves as the winningest coach in Memphis history, 83-85.

Brown broke the news to the Grizzlies before they left Thursday night for Minnesota.

"My biggest regret is that I didn't meet them when I was in my 40s and 50s because I had more to give than I do now because I was more alert, more astute, more observant and I saw more," Brown said, "and I apologized to them because I met them too late in my life."

The news shocked the Grizzlies who spoke with reporters after a shootaround in Minneapolis.

"I'm sorry because he was the greatest that I've ever been around, and he gave us everything he had at the age that he is," Gasol said.

Bonzi Wells, who had a troubled career before Memphis picked him up last December in a trade with Portland, credited Brown with giving him back his spirit for the game and called him a great mentor and teacher.

"Just wanting to go out and work hard for somebody every day, that's the way he made me want to play every day, and I'm going to miss that," Wells said.

West said Hollins may remain the Grizzlies' coach for a few games or the rest of the season. A team spokeswoman said she had no information on the possible hiring of Fratello. ESPN said Fratello must still work out a departure settlement with Turner Sports, where he is a television analyst.

West also wants to keep Brown, the man he calls a "walking encyclopedia," on in some capacity. Brown said he will return to speaking at coaching clinics.

The Grizzlies had some friction earlier this season when Jason Williams started yelling at Brown and his son and assistant coach, Brendan Brown, during the third quarter of a loss to the Mavericks in Dallas on Nov. 7. Williams did not return to the game.

Asked if that contributed to any stress, Brown quickly dismissed that as an issue.

Memphis forward Shane Battier thinks Brown deserves to spend some time with his wife, Claire, and his grandchildren while the Grizzlies try to continue building on what the coach started.

"We're all luckier people to have worked with him for the two years that we did," Battier said.

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