After being denied permission to speak to five NBA head coaches already under contract with rival teams, the Knicks shifted their focus to Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins, with Jenkins falling behind after “projecting less enthusiasm for the job,” writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
The team spoke to other candidates, including James Borrego and Micah Nori, and Ian Begley of SNY.tv confirms that South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley did, in fact, formally interview for the job as well. However, as Begley writes, the search was always expected to result in the Knicks hiring an experienced NBA head coach.
The Knicks ultimately decided Brown was their man in large part because they believe he’ll bring “leadership and collaboration” to the organization, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday. Casey Powell (aka CP The Fanchise) of Knicks Fan TV (Twitter link) notes that the club is also confident in Brown’s ability to maximize the talent on the roster.
While Brown won’t be forced to retain any of the assistants who worked under Tom Thibodeau, the expectation is that a few will be back, according to Begley, who specifically identifies Rick Brunson, Darren Ermann, Mark Bryant, and Maurice Cheeks as strong candidates to remain in New York.
Brown is targeting Borrego for his lead assistant role, viewing him as an ideal offensive coordinator, Begley writes. However, as Marc Stein of The Stein Line notes (via Twitter), the Pelicans want to keep Borrego as their associate head coach and don’t necessarily have to let him leave for what would be a lateral move in terms of his title.
According to Stein (Twitter link), New Orleans previously denied permission to the Nuggets, who wanted to speak to Borrego about their lead assistant role under David Adelman.
Here are a few more coaching-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- As expected, Mavericks player development coach God Shammgod has reached a deal with the Magic to become an assistant on Jamahl Mosley‘s staff, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). Rumors about Orlando’s interest in Shammgod, who had been in Dallas since 2019, had circulated since mid-June.
- With Shammgod departing, keep an eye on Phil Handy and Mike Penberthy as possible candidates to join the Mavericks‘ staff under Jason Kidd, according to Stein (Twitter links). Both Handy and Penberthy were part of the Lakers’ staff alongside Kidd when Frank Vogel – Dallas’ new lead assistant – was the head coach in Los Angeles.
- Omar Cooper Jr., the twin brother of former NBA guard Sharife Cooper and the son of Ace Bailey‘s agent Omar Cooper, is serving as a guest coach for the Jazz during Summer League, per Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. Cooper Jr. is looking to get into coaching after wrapping up his college playing career at McNeese State this past season.
- In announcing its 15-man roster for EuroBasket 2025, the Spanish national team confirmed that former Raptors assistant Sergio Scariolo will be stepping down from his role as Spain’s head coach after the event. BasketNews.com has the story, along with Spain’s roster, which includes Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama.
Lol. Brown can pick his own staff but some expected to stay. OK.
Nrg82:
NBA teams seem to have about 47 assistant coaches now so I’m sure it will be fine.
“ Offensive Prowess:
Under Brown, the Kings boasted the highest offensive rating in the league and set franchise records for points per game. ”
This is the Mike Brown we need in New York …
Make it happen. Get an offensive minded coach.
I think Jenkins is a good coach (I’m from Memphis, so maybe a little biased), but with the caveat that he’s a good coach in the right situation… I didn’t think he was a good fit for New York. At some point in the future, a young and rebuilding team would do well to hire Jenkins. I also wonder how viable he’d be as a college coach…
Thoughts welcomed!
The story in NY was. He was enthusiastic about the job in his interview. The owner Dolan didn’t approve.
I wouldn’t mind he came on as assistant. Knicks have young talented guys they need to show up this year.
It used to be common practice for a newly hired HC to retain at least 1 member of the prior coaching staff on his staff, particularly when there is significant roster continuity. A HCs first job is to assess his players, so it only makes sense that someone involved with the same players for years would be of help. More recently, as FO’s have become 2k-ized, it’s become at least somewhat common for the FO to pick and impose on a new HC multiple staff members, usually guys with a history with the FO more than members of the prior coaching staff. It’s never called “required” but it likely is to a degree. These coaches tend to be the first coaches to depart the staff, and they rarely have the same influence with the HC as his real assistants.
Thibs wanted to retain Mike Miller (who was an AC under Fizdale, and then interim HC after Fizdale was fired) for his familiarity with the players. He was “forced” by the FO to take Kenny Payne and Johnnie Bryant because of WWW connnections. Eventually, the FO rejected Miller and “recommended” Woodson, who left after one year.
The 4 mentioned for Brown’s staff all make sense for different reasons. Brunson and Ermann would serve a continuity role. Bryant and Cheeks are long time coaches with specialized expertise that the NYK bid on to get. The bigger question is whether the NYK are going out there to get the assistants that Brown really wants. I heard he wants Borrega as his lead assistant, and he is under contract with NOP.
It will be interesting to see if they can out score their opponents each night…
Offensive talent for an offensive mind… Great regular season team potential…
I think they might be easily figured out in the playoffs until they move on from KAT… But in the East they could easily make the finals still…