Mike Brown fired: Bernie Bickerstaff to coach Lakers on Friday

The Los Angeles Lakers will be coached by Bernie Bickerstaff on Friday against Golden State, according to Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times, in the wake of the firing of coach Mike Brown.

The Lakers fired Brown just five games into the season, after a disappointing 1-4 start in just his second season with the team. Los Angeles was 41-25 under Brown in 2011-12 and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. To continue to build around Kobe Bryant, the Lakers added Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in the offseason and were expected to be serious contenders for the NBA title.

Bickerstaff has extensive experience as a head coach in the NBA, coaching Seattle (1985-1990), Denver (1994-1996), Washington (1997-1999) and Charlotte (2004-2007). Bickerstaff was also the general manager while coaching the SuperSonics, Nuggets and Bobcats, and was most recently an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers. This is his first season with the Lakers as an assistant.

The Lakers face the Golden State Warriors Friday night at 10:30 p.m. ET.

This story was originally published on SBNation.com.