The New York Knicks are on track to hire Mike Brown—winner of two NBA Coach of the Year awards—as their new head coach.
Following the June 3rd dismissal of Tom Thibodeau, who led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, president Leon Rose conducted a meticulous coaching search. After being denied permission to interview five current NBA coaches, the Knicks shifted focus to candidates available without restrictions—ultimately zeroing in on Brown.
Brown, 55, brings a wealth of NBA experience. He’s served as a top assistant under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and Steve Kerr in Golden State, contributing to four championships. On top of that, he’s coached stars like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and De’Aaron Fox .
As a head coach, Brown holds a career record of 454–304. He claimed Coach of the Year in Cleveland (2009) and Sacramento (2023), and reached the NBA Finals in 2007 with the Cavaliers. More recently, he ended Sacramento’s 16‑year playoff drought in 2023 before being dismissed after a 13–18 start to the 2024–25 season .
Brown has emerged as the only candidate to interview with the Knicks more than once, including meetings with Rose, owner James Dolan, and other front-office officials this week—solidifying his status as the frontrunner .
Other interviewees have included former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, associate coach James Borrego, and assistant Micah Nori . While the franchise sought permission to speak with current NBA coaches—such as Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, and Quin Snyder—those requests were declined .
With Brown poised to be introduced as the 14th head coach in franchise history since 2000, the organization and fanbase hope his championship experience and player development skills can build on the foundation left by Thibodeau’s playoff run .
Why this hire makes sense
- Championship pedigree: Brown brings four NBA titles as an assistant and two Coach of the Year accolades.
- Proven playoff coach: Led Cleveland to the 2007 Finals and Sacramento to notable playoff success.
- Strong front-office rapport: Multiple interviews and support suggest alignment with leadership.
- Availability: As an unaffiliated coach, Brown was accessible when other prospects were off-limits.
Expect an official announcement soon. Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into Brown’s coaching style or how he might fit with the current roster!
