Los Angeles Lakers Fire Mike Brown: Stan Van Gundy, Magic Johnson And Others React

'Most Ridiculous Firing In History Of The NBA'
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 24: Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic against the Atlanta Hawks during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 24, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 24: Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic against the Atlanta Hawks during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 24, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Thanks to his tumultuous relationship with Dwight Howard, former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was a longshot for the vacant Lakers' coaching gig from the start. After he weighed in on the team's decision to fire Mike Brown after just five games of the 2012-2013 season, those odds likely got a bit longer.

Citing injuries, the small sample size (five games this season) and the changes within the coaching staff, Van Gundy described the move as the "most ridiculous firing in the history of the NBA" to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.

According to Elias (via Ken Berger of CBS), Brown is the first NBA coach to be fired after five games or less into a season in 41 years. Despite starting the season at 1-4, Brown was 71-42 overall as the Lakers head coach helped the team win the Pacific Division in his first year in L.A.

Van Gundy was hardly the only one with a strong reaction to the news, fellow coaches, media members, bloggers and fans all offered up their two cents after USA Today first reported the firing.

"From outside looking in, he never had a chance to put the team together," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told Mike Monroe of the San Antonio News-Express. "That's pretty obvious to anybody ... whatever their reasons were, are their reasons ... but Mike is a helluva coach and never had a chance; it's quite premature."

At the other end of the spectrum, Lakers legend Magic Johnson seemed to agree with the move.

Do you agree with Van Gundy's assessment of the decision? Or Magic?

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