The New York Knicks have officially hired Mike Brown as their new head coach, a hire loaded with both experience and expectation.
Brown brings a wealth of accomplishments to New York. He’s a two-time NBA Coach of the Year with a career winning percentage of .599 over 754 regular season games. He’s also been part of four NBA championship teams as an assistant with San Antonio and Golden State and led the Kings to their first playoff berth in 16 seasons in 2023.
The decision comes after team president Leon Rose made the bold call to fire Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks had reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in twenty-five years, but Rose decided it wasn’t enough.
“Firing Thibodeau and hiring Brown can’t be a lateral move. It has to elevate the Knicks to the next level, which is the NBA Finals,” SNY reporter Ian Begley said.
The coaching search began with the Knicks requesting permission to interview current head coaches.
“Each request was denied,” Begley reported.
Top targets included Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, and Jason Kidd, but “the pathway to either of those three coaches was non-existent.”
New York then shifted focus to proven head coaches and top assistants. Brown, Taylor Jenkins, James Borrego, Micah Nori, and Dawn Staley were all interviewed.
Brown was the only candidate granted a second interview and even met owner James Dolan. A Knicks executive told Begley, “He wasn’t their first choice. But one high-ranking executive who knows Brown well said he was the best option available to the Knicks.”
As for Brown’s staff, the Knicks are giving him full autonomy.
“He is targeting Borrego for the top role on staff and views Borrego as a great offensive coordinator of sorts,” Begley said. However, Borrego remains under contract in New Orleans.
Begley added, “Brown will be under significant pressure to perform from Day One in New York.”
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