Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown has been fired after a 1-4 start to the season, a source tells ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne.

It is not known yet who will take over for him, but a source indicated that one of assistant coaches Bernie Bickerstaff or Chuck Person will take over on an interim basis.

Earlier Friday, sources had told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the team was using its upcoming six-game homestand to evaluate Brown, but after numerous discussion over the past 48 hours, Lakers management came to a unanimous decision that the team wasn't heading in the right direction.

The Lakers have had a healthy Steve Nash in the lineup for only 1½ of their five games so far thanks to a leg injury, while fellow newcomer Dwight Howard has acknowledged that he's still recovering from the back surgery that brought a premature end to his 2011-12 campaign and knocked him out of the London Olympics. Kobe Bryant has also been playing through a foot ailment.
The Lakers are off to the worst start in the Western Conference despite carrying the league's largest payroll at just over $100 million, which would trigger an estimated luxury-tax bill at season's end of nearly $30 million.

The team has also been trying to institute a form of the Princeton offense, a system that relies on reads and ball sharing in order to take some offensive load off Bryant. The results have been mixed so far.

Information from ESPN.com's Marc Stein was used in this report.

I knew his days were numbered once he got the Stink eye!

tkf wrote:i THINK this is a bit ridiculous... after 5 games? really? I always felt Brown was more suited to being an assistant coach. not sure where pairing him with the lakers came from... but jeez.. talk about premature..

he hasnt gotten along to well with his main player from the looks of things. bryant may say he backs the coach, though what else is he gonna say... brown was the wrong guy for that job from the start

sidsanders wrote:

tkf wrote:i THINK this is a bit ridiculous... after 5 games? really? I always felt Brown was more suited to being an assistant coach. not sure where pairing him with the lakers came from... but jeez.. talk about premature..

he hasnt gotten along to well with his main player from the looks of things. bryant may say he backs the coach, though what else is he gonna say... brown was the wrong guy for that job from the start

I am not sure who can coach this diva... other than phil.. LOL... kobe has many rings, and many awards so that gets him by I am sure.. but really, Brown is not on the court playing, the players are and they are 1-4, it is early, no nash, Dwight just getting into a groove... to give Brown just 5 games is a bit ridiculous unless kobe said he wanted him gone.. flat out...

tkf wrote:

sidsanders wrote:

tkf wrote:i THINK this is a bit ridiculous... after 5 games? really? I always felt Brown was more suited to being an assistant coach. not sure where pairing him with the lakers came from... but jeez.. talk about premature..

he hasnt gotten along to well with his main player from the looks of things. bryant may say he backs the coach, though what else is he gonna say... brown was the wrong guy for that job from the start

I am not sure who can coach this diva... other than phil.. LOL... kobe has many rings, and many awards so that gets him by I am sure.. but really, Brown is not on the court playing, the players are and they are 1-4, it is early, no nash, Dwight just getting into a groove... to give Brown just 5 games is a bit ridiculous unless kobe said he wanted him gone.. flat out...

bryant didnt seem to like the direction last year and this slow start now i think he had it. cut losses early

Nalod wrote:damn! Chuck buck is the new Nate Silver!

Thanks!

Sources: D'Antoni Discussed As Candidate For Lakers' Job
Nov 09, 2012 1:16 PM EST

Mike D'Antoni has been discussed by the Los Angeles Lakers as a potential replacement for Mike Brown, according to sources.

D'Antoni stepped down as head coach of the New York Knicks last spring.

D'Antoni is familiar with Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard due to his time as an assistant coach with the United States basketball team, while he coached Steve Nash for several seasons with the Phoenix Suns.

Ric Bucher reports that D'Antoni recently had knee surgery and will be off his feet for the next six weeks.

NYKBocker wrote:Holy Crap! This would be a great move for the Lakers. When is Nash coming back?

Sources: D'Antoni Discussed As Candidate For Lakers' Job
Nov 09, 2012 1:16 PM EST

Mike D'Antoni has been discussed by the Los Angeles Lakers as a potential replacement for Mike Brown, according to sources.

D'Antoni stepped down as head coach of the New York Knicks last spring.

D'Antoni is familiar with Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard due to his time as an assistant coach with the United States basketball team, while he coached Steve Nash for several seasons with the Phoenix Suns.

Ric Bucher reports that D'Antoni recently had knee surgery and will be off his feet for the next six weeks.

bryant could be as rough for dantoni to deal with as well as howard and mr world peace. i could see things going poorly if they go with dantoni and if those 3 guys dont stay in line.