Sources told Local 4 on Monday afternoon that Larry Brown is out as Pistons coach.
Brown reportedly accepted a buyout deal from the team and will take a year off from coaching basketball.
Brown (pictured, left) is then expected to coach the New York Knicks upon his return, according to the station's reports.
Pistons officials had spoken numerous times with Brown, 64, since he checked out of the Minnesota Mayo Clinic earlier this month.
The morning after the NBA draft, Brown was hospitalized for two days to address a medical problem that developed from complications following hip surgery in November and did not go away after a second procedure in March.
Brown signed a five-year contract with the Pistons worth about $25 million, plus incentive bonuses, two years ago.
A source told Smilovitz that the Pistons players were upset with Brown most of the season for his lack of loyalty to the team when he was apparently seeking other jobs. Another source said Owner Bill Davidson has had enough with Brown's "off-court antics" and that a buyout could be in the works, said Smilovitz.
Brown has expressed interest in coaching with the New York Knicks, who are waiting for a new head coach, Local 4 reported. Cleveland Cavaliers owner and local businessman Dan Gilbert said his organization spoke to Brown in June about becoming Cleveland's president of basketball operations when the Pistons' season ended.
In 2004, Brown became the first coach to win NBA and NCAA championships when the Pistons won the NBA Finals. Brown won the college title with Kansas in 1988.
The Pistons came up short in their bid to repeat this season, losing to San Antonio in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last month.
Brown reportedly accepted a buyout deal from the team and will take a year off from coaching basketball.
Brown (pictured, left) is then expected to coach the New York Knicks upon his return, according to the station's reports.
Pistons officials had spoken numerous times with Brown, 64, since he checked out of the Minnesota Mayo Clinic earlier this month.
The morning after the NBA draft, Brown was hospitalized for two days to address a medical problem that developed from complications following hip surgery in November and did not go away after a second procedure in March.
Brown signed a five-year contract with the Pistons worth about $25 million, plus incentive bonuses, two years ago.
A source told Smilovitz that the Pistons players were upset with Brown most of the season for his lack of loyalty to the team when he was apparently seeking other jobs. Another source said Owner Bill Davidson has had enough with Brown's "off-court antics" and that a buyout could be in the works, said Smilovitz.
Brown has expressed interest in coaching with the New York Knicks, who are waiting for a new head coach, Local 4 reported. Cleveland Cavaliers owner and local businessman Dan Gilbert said his organization spoke to Brown in June about becoming Cleveland's president of basketball operations when the Pistons' season ended.
In 2004, Brown became the first coach to win NBA and NCAA championships when the Pistons won the NBA Finals. Brown won the college title with Kansas in 1988.
The Pistons came up short in their bid to repeat this season, losing to San Antonio in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last month.
