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Last Updated: November 11. 2009 7:42PM
Ex-Pistons coach Larry Brown: I owe a lot John Kuester, too
Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News
Auburn Hills -- John Kuester talked much the past few days about how much he owes to Larry Brown.
But before Wednesday's game, Brown, the Hall of Fame coach who won a championship with the Pistons in 2004 and has been successful on so many stops, credited Kuester for much his own success.
Sort of the mentor extending thanks to the pupil.
"I don't look at him as my protégé. He's been a big part of my career. I owe a lot to him," said Brown, in town Wednesday with his Charlotte Bobcats. "But the nice thing is there is a lot of guys in this league that have helped me that are doing quite well and have positions that they deserve.
"I am happy for him. He deserves it. Joe (Dumars, the Pistons president of basketball operations) recognized that. He's given him a wonderful opportunity. This is a great place to coach and it's a great organization to work for. John will do a great job. He's done a phenomenal job wherever he's been. He's been loyal. I'm confident he'll do a great job here."
Brown, who had Kuester on his staff in Philadelphia and Detroit, doesn't look forward to these kind of games -- facing one of his former assistants.
"I get to experience this a lot and it's not fun," Brown said. "If you win, you have mixed emotions. If you lose, you have mixed emotions. These games, I just hope to get through.
"I don't think it's special playing against somebody you have a lot of respect for and you're proud of."
Brown, by the way, still has good feelings for the two seasons he spent with the Pistons before he left and took over as coach of the Knicks.
"This is a great place to coach. It's a great organization, there's a great owner, the fans were phenomenal, I loved it here," Brown said. "But that's in the past. I got a heck of a responsibility in what I'm doing now. We are trying to do the right thing in Charlotte."
