Brown retires from Grizzlies due to health

Hubie Brown retired as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday due to health reasons.

"Unexpected health-related issues will not allow me to continue coaching the Memphis Grizzlies," the 71-year-old Brown said in a statement. "This situation was unforeseen and absolutely nonexistent at the beginning of the season."

Assistant coach Lionel Hollins was named interim coach, Grizzlies president Jerry West said.

Brown was not available for comment Thursday. The team scheduled a news conference for today.

"This is an extremely sad day for me," West said in a statement. "This franchise is by far better from the leadership and guidance of Hubie Brown, and we will be forever grateful to Hubie."

Brown was the oldest coach in the NBA when he returned to the league in 2002 after a 16-year break.

He was head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks in the late 1970s and 1980s. After being fired by the Knicks, Brown became a TV basketball analyst.

He returned to the league on Nov. 12, 2002, when he joined the Grizzlies in their second season after leaving Vancouver, where the franchise was founded in 1995.

Brown had an 83-85 record with the Grizzlies. He was named NBA Coach of the Year last season after leading Memphis to a 50-32 record and its first playoff appearance.

There was little doubt Brown would return this season. He was given medical clearance and told The Associated Press he had no hesitation coming back.

"No, none at all," he said at the time. "I feel fine."

Brown retired one day after the Grizzlies lost to the Seattle SuperSonics 93-84 and slipped to 5-7. He made no reference to retiring after the game.

In the game against Seattle, Brown was active, arguing with officials, calling out plays and checking on players when they were injured.

While much was expected of Memphis this season, the team has been hampered by injuries and has not performed to the level it reached during last season.

Brown coached for 33 years, including 15 seasons in the NBA.

Hollins takes over as an interim coach for the second time. He first joined the Grizzlies as lead assistant in Vancouver during the team's inaugural season. He took over as head coach midway through the 1999-00 season, guiding Vancouver to an 18-42 finish.

Memphis Grizzlies forward James Posey said before the season that Brown could have retired without apologizing.

"He could sit back and have a couple of margaritas or something, but he chose to come back," Posey said. "That's why I love to be around him. He's not willing to give in."