Lakers GM on Brown Firing: "It's Wins and Losses"

" The decision to dismiss Mike Brown as Lakers head coach just five games into the season was based on the team's disappointing start and the organization's sense of urgency around a team that was built to contend for an NBA championship, the Lakers' general manager said Friday.

Brown was fired -- a decision Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak described as "difficult and painful" -- Friday after a 1-4 start to a season that began with aspirations for a 17th NBA title.

"It's really simple," Kupchak said at a Friday news conference. "It's wins and losses."

The move comes after an off season in which Los Angeles added two all-stars to a talented core of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace. The team was off to a slow start and showed few signs of improvement, Kupchak said.

"We're not looking five or 10 years down the road," Kupchak said. "This team was built to contend this year."

MORE: Next For Lakers: Search for New Head Coach

Assistant Coach Bernie Bickerstaff will take over as interim head coach. A search for a new head coach will begin immediately, according to a team statement "

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