Winless Grizzlies pick Brown after Lowe resigns

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Grizzlies brought back Hubie Brown from the broadcast booth, picking him to coach the NBA's only winless team after Sidney Lowe resigned Tuesday.

Jerry West, Memphis' president of basketball operations, called the 69-year-old Brown "the consummate teacher" and said the Turner Sports analyst was exactly what the young Grizzlies need.

Brown was scheduled to join the 0-8 Grizzlies on Wednesday. Memphis' next game is Friday night against Minnesota.

"He sounds like a teenager rearing for his first date," West said.

West declined to give details of Brown's contract with Memphis except to say "it's for more than one year." Brown last coached in the NBA in the 1986-87 season with the New York Knicks.

Lowe's resignation came the day after the Grizzlies lost to Golden State 108-101 at home.

"I wish the team well," Lowe said in a statement. "The Grizzlies have some good, young talent here, and they are going to be good in the future."

The Grizzlies have been among the worst NBA teams recently, going 23-59 in each of the previous two seasons.

West said the resignation was Lowe's idea.

"I think Sidney was frustrated with the way we were playing, frustrated with the results. I think in his mind he thought it was in his best interest and in the team's best interest to resign," West said.

Brown spent 10 seasons coaching in the NBA with the Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks. He was chosen as Coach of the Year in 1978 with the Hawks.

West said Brown was his top choice for a new coach, and said it took just one phone call to fill the job.

"I don't know how we got a coach here this quickly, but I feel very, very confident that we got a guy here who will be the ultimate teacher," West said.

Lowe was in his third season with the Grizzlies, who have not had a winning season since joining the NBA in 1995.

The franchise moved to Memphis last year from Vancouver.

The Grizzlies had their best records under Lowe. He was formerly an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers and head coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

West, one of the most respected executives in the NBA, came out of retirement to join the Grizzlies this year.

His move to Memphis had Grizzlies fans fired up, and his additions to the team, including first-round draft choice Drew Gooden and Wesley Person, a shooting guard from Cleveland, increased the optimism.

But the Grizzlies were criticized for uninspired play early into the season, particularly on defense.

West said he expects Brown, who he described as a tough disciplinarian, to quickly add spark to the Grizzlies' play.

"They'd better bring their work clothes. If they don't play, they won't play for him," West said.

Before the team's Nov. 4 overtime loss to San Antonio, West said he had no intentions of replacing Lowe. The team also started last season 0-8.

West said accepting Lowe's resignation was hard.

"It was a tough meeting," West said. "He's one of those people who sometimes it's difficult to say goodbye to."

Lowe's resignation came after poor back-to-back performances in losses to Denver and Golden State.

The Grizzlies scored only 73 points against Denver and trailed by 25 points in the second half against the Warriors.