Lakers management fired head coach Mike Brown today, just five games (and four losses) into the season.

The LA Times is calling it the earliest firing in Laker history.

On the bright side though, Brown is $11 million dollars richer, he doesn't have to deal with the team's notorious divas anymore, and rabid fans will no longer be tweeting death threats at his son, Elijah.

“This was a difficult and painful decision to make,” General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement released this morning. “Mike was very hard-working and dedicated, but we felt it was in the best interest of the team to make a change at this time. We appreciate Mike's efforts and contributions and wish him and his family the best of luck.”

Assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff will take over coaching duty for tonight's game against the Golden State Warriors, while management begins a search for Brown's replacement.

Magic Johnson and Shaq both tweeted their surprise at the decision:

…The whole thing might be a relief for Brown though, who heard for the first time yesterday that his son Elijah has been receiving threats on Twitter.

Here's a sampling of some of the awful things Lakers fans have been tweeting at the Mater Dei High School senior:

Stay classy, Laker Nation.

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