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Lakers introduce new coach Mike Brown

Head coach Mike Brown of the Cleveland Cavaliers calls out instructions while playing the Boston Celtics during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 1, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Head coach Mike Brown of the Cleveland Cavaliers calls out instructions while playing the Boston Celtics during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 1, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Shirley Jahad and Corey Moore |

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The Lakers introduced the team’s new head coach today.

Mike Brown, 41 – former coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers – acknowledges he has the toughest shoes to fill, in replacing 11-time NBA championship winning coach Phil Jackson.

Brown was expected to sign a deal worth $18 million over four years. Lakers officials say they wanted to bring new energy to the team.

Brown won honors as coach of the year in the '08-'09 season with the Cavs. But he was fired the next year. He spent last year talking basketball as a television sports analyst.

Jackson had been grooming his assistant Brian Shaw to take over the head coaching job, and Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant publicly endorsed Shaw as well.

Jackson brought the Lakers to five NBA championships in 11 seasons. The coach known as the Zen master also won six championships with the Chicago Bulls.