The Knicks have reportedly been denied permission to speak to five head coaches currently employed by NBA teams, but their search for Tom Thibodeau‘s replacement isn’t entirely focused on candidates who already have head coaching jobs. Former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Kings coach Mike Brown are also said to be on New York’s radar.
Sam Amick of The Athletic cited league sources who say there’s an “increased Knicks focus” on Jenkins and Brown, while Stefan Bondy of The New York Post‘s list of potential candidates (subscription required), based on intel he has gathered, includes a “top contenders” tier that consists solely of Jenkins and Brown.
Jenkins, who was the head coach in Memphis from 2019-25, compiled a 250-214 (.539) record during that time and led the club to three playoff appearances — ’24/25 would have been a fourth, but he was fired with nine games left in the regular season.
Although Jenkins’ career postseason record of 9-14 is underwhelming and the Grizzlies were disappointed by his results this season, it’s worth noting that his ouster didn’t exactly jump-start this year’s team. The Grizzlies finished the regular season by going 4-5 under Tuomas Iisalo, then were swept out of the first round by Oklahoma City.
Brown, meanwhile, was dismissed by the Kings midway through the 2024/25 season after guiding the team to a 107-88 (.549) mark across two-and-a-half seasons, with one playoff appearance and one play-in exit. Brown, who also previously coached the Cavaliers and Lakers, earned Coach of the Year honors in 2009 and 2023.
As Amick observes, Brown interviewed for the Knicks’ head coaching position in 2020 before Thibodeau was hired, and league sources tell The Athletic he left a “very strong impression” on the club.
Here’s more on the Knicks and their head coaching vacancy:
- After originally reporting that Michael Malone isn’t a candidate for the Knicks’ job, Bondy says it’s now not out of the question that the former Nuggets coach could get an interview. However, Malone remains a “long-shot” option, according to Bondy.
- Although the Mavericks declined the Knicks’ request to speak to Jason Kidd, Bondy agrees with Newsday’s Steve Popper, who said on Wednesday that Dallas’ denial doesn’t necessarily spell the end of New York’s pursuit of Kidd. As Bondy explains, Kidd is believed to be seeking a contract extension from the Mavs — if he doesn’t get that new deal and New York is willing to offer him a long-term contract, Kidd could make things uncomfortable for his current team. Still, Bondy acknowledges there’s probably only a “small” chance of the situation playing out that way. One league source he spoke to was adamant that the Mavs won’t let Kidd go.
- In a separate column for the Post, Bondy suggests Thibodeau’s dismissal was more about relationships than results and questions the statement put out by Leon Rose in which the Knicks’ president of basketball operations said the change was necessary because the team is “singularly focused on winning a championship.” No one in the organization, Bondy argues, was more “singularly focused on winning” than Thibodeau.
I guess they gave up on grabbing other team coaches. Both would be good for the knicks defensively.
Have knicks tried poaching the other 26 nba coaches yet?
They should offer 2032 2nd rd pick + unlimited street meat in return
No drinks! Can’t do it
These 2 should be proud to be the Knicks 5th or 6th choice!
By the Knicks ‘requesting’ to speak with coaches, it plants the interest without breaking any rules so the coach in question can express any interest they may have in the opportunity. While five coaches is a lot, the Knicks just planted the seed in hoping one of them is able to get their way and be granted permission. A team with a coach interested elsewhere is a situation the team will then have to deal with and thus probably grant permission in return for compensation, which I’m sure the Knicks would be inclined to pay.
I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a failure, but rather exploring their options based on preference before looking outside that pool.
Jenks isn’t a bad option considering the injuries he had to deal with and JMs off the court issues and suspension. Personally I think he was able to get them to overachieve though the end result is not something to be confident in. Sometimes better situations enable better results. This may be one of those situations.
Jenkins is a great choice. He did really well with that dumpster fire in Memphis
Why not interview Kris Jenkins who hit the game winner
Mike Brown is owed 2Y / 20M on his current contract. The Knicks would need to go further out on the years (5 / 50) & probably offer a raise (5 / 60?) to make it happen.
Jenkins is more realistically available, but his anti-media personality would crumble in NY, and he wouldn’t be able to handle NY pressure (nevermind contending / picking up for Thibs). He’s already an established playoff / regular season choker.
These dummies in the NY fanbase & media have no idea how good they’ve had it with Thibs’ reliance on his starters being the only thing to pick at.
Meanwhile small market Memphis collapsed from 2 down to 8 while their stars were playing 29 MPG LOL. You guys said you wanted more Tyler Kolek eh?
Knicks need to get a first time coach and build a real system organically
Is it possible that Leon is just taking the popular consensus and hiring that person.
Here let me float all these names, which one comes back with the most momentum?
Why not Johnnie Bryant?
Perhaps some concerns about growing pains in Year 1. Not that the Knicks should only be thinking about next season. Or maybe they’re just doing their due diligence, as they should.
I take no issue with the NYK FO requesting permission to speak with any number of existing HC’s. It’s not that unusual, and if you’re going to ask any team, then you might as well ask every team you intend to ask, at about the same time.
The real question is why did the NYK FO (which for 4 years has given the media nothing, as policy) decide to spoon feed the media so much information about these requests? Hope I’m wrong, but the only reason I can think of is misdirection. The most likely purpose being to “set the table” to hire a Babysitter as the next HC. If the process extends through the draft, this will become apparent. A real HC’ing hire would certainly be put in place soon enough to be a part of all off season discussions re: personnel moves, even if they are just roster tweaking. A Babysitter can be hired at any time.
Thete is absolutely nothing coming out of Knicks camp about a coaching search. Rose hasn’t talk to press in years. Dolan has only talked about his lawsuit with the NBA. So all this noise is coming from media hows. Who all know Knicks don’t have assets to go after coaches under contract. Especially with how bad their bench was last year.
Yet it never stops in NY. I just want a coach before the draft ………. Michael Malone from Queens NYC
Jenkins…..speaking of coaching. OKC’s is costing them the finals thus far. I’m sure the other J will was trusted and playing more during the regular season, same goes for Hartenstein. Chet struggled in the playoffs last season with the physicality. OKC addressed this, made moves accordingly and balled out with the double big line up. All of a sudden completely change rotations for the Finals. Just WOW. Thunders bench getting absolutely owned. Get Wallace off the bench in hope of some kind of spark off the bench. That Davey called this bloke a genius halftime game 1 for doing this, lol. He knows ball. Best team in the league all season and it’s you that’s changing the rotation before a ball even bounced, in the finals no less. I’m absolutely shocked at this rookie era.
Mike Brown SMH
I get the Knicks are probably (hopefully) just doing their due diligence here but Brown is a carbon copy of Thibs in many ways. Good motivator, stubborn lineup setter, subpar in-game adjuster. They would be insane to go with him. Exactly the kind of hiring you’d expect in the LolKnicks days.