Kings Coach Brown & State’s Patrick Back Each Other
Picture courtesy of jdavidson@sacbee.com
IslandStats.com
Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown, and Sacramento State coach David Patrick friendship goes back years, basketball lifers known for their good cheer as much as their coaching prowess.
Both are leading upstarts, eager to end droughts amid the pounding rain outdoors, and Kings coach Brown backs Sacramento State coach Patrick as much as Patrick does Brown.
Last week, Brown during a media session implored fans to pack Sacramento State’s cozy yet smallish gym — The Nest — for a Thursday night Big Sky Conference contest against Northern Colorado. Brown also tried to figure out how to do the school’s “Stingers Up!” hand gesture, initially wondering if it was a hang loose gesture with the thumb, or with just the pinkie. Just the pinkie, coach.
Brown soon had it down, and he had a message for Sacramento State fans, “Especially the students. Get your behinds to the game. That little gym needs to be filled every night because (athletic director) Mark Orr is doing his job to get a new arena there.” Brown then offered a hearty, “Stingers up! We are with you, D.P.”
Brown didn’t just promote the Hornets and his friend. He showed up to The Nest on Thursday, sitting in a baseline seat next to Kings star guard De’Aaron Fox.
They returned the favor as Patrick has attended Kings games and practices. Besides, the coaches said, it isn’t just the right thing to do, but the fun thing to do. The Hornets won 72-64 to move to 9-7 overall and 3-1 in the Big Sky entering Saturday’s contest against Northern Arizona.
Sacramento State seeks just its third winning season since moving to Division I in 1993, just as the Kings seek their first playoff showing since 2006.
