Randy Brown couldn’t sit silently any longer.
For the third time in two seasons, including a line in a Tribune story last season, the former Bull and current assistant coach watched his name get dragged through the mud, accused of being general manager Gar Forman’s eyes and ears inside the locker room. Their relationship dates to Forman recruiting and signing Brown to New Mexico State out of Collins High School in the late 1980s.
On Saturday, Brown reached his breaking point, passionately defending his character.
"Look, this is a public position. I get it. But my reputation is being slandered at this point," Brown told the Tribune. "I’m losing sleep the last couple of days. I’m trying to get over it. But it’s tough.
"I played 12 years in the NBA. I’ve had hundreds of teammates and I’ve always been a good teammate on and off the court. I’ve never been known as the person I’m being portrayed as. As a former player, I understand how sacred the locker room is. I would never, ever violate that unwritten rule. That room is for the players. It’s not for me to report anything. I would never do that.
"I think I’m a really, really good coach. I work my ass off for Fred Hoiberg and the Bulls. I treat all my players the same, from D-Wade all the way down to Denzel Valentine. I feel I relate to these players in more ways than basketball. For me to be portrayed as being a snitch really, really doesn’t sit well with me. It’s not part of who I am."
Brown also wouldn’t apologize for his close relationship with Forman.
"I’ve known Gar for 28 years," Brown said. "My mother and dad trusted Gar with me years ago. He’s like family to me. That relationship is never going to change. It doesn’t mean I have to degrade myself for the organization.
"Gar has never come to me and said, ‘Hey, Randy, I want you to be a spy in Fred Hoiberg’s locker room.’ That doesn’t even sound right. Gar and Pax (executive vice president John Paxson) would never ask me to do that. And Fred Hoiberg knows that. It is disrespectful for Gar to say, ‘Randy, how you doing?’ and I don’t respond just because I’m a coach. Even if a player was to say something (private) to me inside those walls, Gar and Pax wouldn’t even me put me in that position (to share it). I have good relationships with the entire team."
Randy Brown Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune
Bulls guard Derrick Rose smiles with assistant coach Randy Brown during the second half of their game against the Washington Wizards at the United Center on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose smiles with assistant coach Randy Brown during the second half of their game against the Washington Wizards at the United Center on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016.
(Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)
The Tribune reported last April in a larger story centered on last season’s dysfunction that Brown is well-liked by players but, rightly or wrongly, was viewed by some as Forman’s eyes and ears. This dates to Brown serving as Forman’s special assistant and later assistant general manager during Tom Thibodeau’s tenure. Thibodeau eventually distrusted all things management.
While also praising Brown, former Bull and current CBS Sports analyst Richard Hamilton said in a CBSSports.com video this week that an assistant coach told players on the 2011-12 team not to listen to Brown — who was then Forman’s assistant — because of his front-office ties. A Sun-Times report this week linked Jimmy Butler’s distrust of the front office in part to Brown’s role as a go-between.
Brown used to write encouraging notes to Butler when Butler didn’t play much his rookie season. Butler likes Brown. And players have praised Brown consistently over the last two seasons since he moved to the bench before last season.
Brown, who played on the Bulls’ second three-peat team, worked as a Kings assistant before the Bulls hired him as a director of player development for Vinny Del Negro in 2009. Starting his coaching career with another organization is another reason he’s so bothered.
Brown also prides himself on his selflessness, having taken European players to get visas and even teaching one former player how to drive.
"This is why this stuff hurts me the most: I pride myself on having strong relationships with players," Brown said. "I went to Jimmy and D-Wade after the incident with them talking about the young players. I told them they’re loved by a lot of people and this would blow by. I try to do everything I can to make this organization better."
kcjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kcjhoop
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