Coach Brown returns to Sacto on Wednesday, now on the Knicks’ and not the Kings’ sideline.

New York still has a couple of road games on the West Coast as everybody is getting healthier, bar Shamet.

Here’s what the protagonists of tonight’s affair have said of late.

Mike Brown

On the emotions of returning to Sacramento:

“Great memories here. I enjoyed working with the people I worked with, too. The reality of it is coming back here in a place my family enjoyed, yeah it’s a little emotional. But at the end of the day, the fans, if they cheer me or hug me when they see me during the game, after the game, trust me, they wanna kick my ass, and the Knicks’ ass. And we wanna do the same.”

On ignoring outside narratives:

“I can’t control what things are being said. Anybody can jump on the internet and post something and to some degree, you may think it’s real. You can’t control that. You’ve just gotta put your head down, keep pushing forward and be the best you can.”

On processing his Kings firing:

“When it happened, you process it real quickly and then literally my wife and I, we went to Australia for UFC 313. We went to hang out in Brooklyn, we hung out in Puerto Vallarta, and then we went to St. Barts. I probably shouldn’t say all that. But in this life, you’ve gotta keep moving forward. You can really beat yourself up if you try to guess what should have happened, why it happened, all that stuff. Life is short.”

On his Kings tenure and injuries hurting them:

“Our first year we won 48 games, and this is my personal two cents: if Kevin doesn’t get hurt two months to go and Malik doesn’t get hurt with a month to go, we probably win 50 that second year and then we’re in the playoffs. First year we played injury free, second year we got hit with the injury bug especially late. If there’s anything I regret, I wish we were injury free at least at the end of the season to give ourselves a better chance.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ adjustment:

“I’ve said this before: It’s not all on KAT to adjust to and adapt to what we have to do. He’s had the hardest adjustment period because he’s had to learn the most. In the same breath, I have to make sure that I help him by simplifying what we do and making sure I’m putting him in the right spots, and then he’s got to do the things necessary to help out as well. He’s a great rebounder. He’s a potential double-double guy every time he steps out on the floor, so there are other ways he can impact the game. That’s what great players do.”

Josh Hart

On the perceptions around Mike Brown’s firing:

“I don’t know the ins and outs of how it transpired. The stuff that was always reported wasn’t the most respectful stuff. I think the way that it happened was reported kind of unfair and unprofessional.”

On the system changes under Brown:

“You know, it always takes a little bit of time to change systems. It’s the same nucleus, same group of guys. Roles are a little different, situations are a little different. We knew it was always going to take a little bit of time, but we’re figuring it out. There’s highs and lows. We’re learning and progressing.”

On the meaning of revenge games:

“I’m sure there’s a human side to wanting to play the team that fired you. He hasn’t shown that at all. We always say it’s just another game, but there’s always a little bit behind it.”

Jalen Brunson

On Mike Brown as a coach:

“I was happy with the hiring. I heard about him. I didn’t really have a relationship with him but he’s always said some nice words about me to the press. So when I got to know him and everything, it just validated what I thought. Great guy, on and off the court. Just a blessing to be around.”

On the Knicks’ ever-improving game:

“I feel like we’re not a finished product. There will always be constant adjustments. You’re never a finished product.”