2:29 pm: The Knicks have been telling potential free agent targets that they’re nearing a resolution in their coaching search, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
8:54 am: Mike Brown‘s second interview for the Knicks‘ head coaching vacancy will take place on Tuesday, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, who reports (via Twitter) that team owner James Dolan will be part of that meeting.
As Begley observes, it’s common for a team’s owner to sit in on interviews during the late stages of a head coaching search, so Dolan’s involvement may suggest the Knicks are getting close to making a decision.
NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link) confirms that the Knicks’ interest in hiring Brown has “intensified,” though Begley cautions that it remains possible that other candidates could come in for second interviews. In particular, the club is considering bringing back Pelicans assistant James Borrego and Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori for second meetings, reports James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
One scenario that has emerged as a possibility, according to Stein, is Borrego joining the Knicks as Brown’s top assistant if the former Kings head coach gets the job. As Begley notes (via Twitter), there would be some hurdles to clear in that scenario, since Borrego is already under contract as the associate head coach in New Orleans.
Outside of Brown, Borrego, and Nori, the only other candidate confirmed to have interviewed for the job was former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. The Knicks haven’t ruled out the possibility of interviewing him a second time, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday.
Interestingly, Jeremiah Donati, the athletic director at the University of South Carolina, confirmed that the Knicks reached out to the Gamecocks’ women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley to touch base about their head coaching position, per Talia Goodman of On3 Sports (Twitter link). That development was first reported by Knicks Fan TV (Substack link).
It’s unclear if Staley had a formal interview for the job, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. According to Edwards, she isn’t considered a finalist for the Knicks’ position, even though she “impressed” in their conversation.
Can’t we generate some new HCs? Why do we have to retread? Where’s Sam in the interviews? Corliss? Have I just missed their names?
Sam is long overdue, I would welcome him back to Philly if things under Nick don’t improve. I like Nurse, I just didn’t like how we performed under him last year
NY doesn’t do new. This isn’t the place to learn on the job. Brown is basically a younger Thibs. Shows how incompetent Dolan is. Rose better not loose it.
Strikes me as a “Joe Torre” safe-as-milk kind of hire. Is this the way to ride the momentum & generate Knicks fans’ enthusiasm? I don’t think so. Wake up, Dolan!
Brown would be a good hire IMO.
For a year or two until his act gets old and the players tune him out.
When has Brown ever been a good hire?
> When has Brown ever been a good hire?
Is he an elite coach? No. But he’s had a lot of success.
1. Sacramento. Maybe the toughest coaching position in the NBA. They hadn’t been to the playoffs in 17 years, and he turned it around. Brown did a spectacular job.
2. Cleveland. He started coaching in 2005, got Cleveland to the Finals in 2007. NBA Coach of the Year.
3. Golden State. He was lead assistant on several championship teams. Responsible for the defense, which he did a great job. Few coaches are as well respected by star players. As Mike Brown.
He’s also been an unsuccesful coach at least once, with the Lakers. But that wasn’t your question.
Stop it. He had nothing to do with the success of those Cavs teams.
And the Warriors didn’t win those championships because of defense.
The Warriors didnt win those championships because Mike Brown was responsible for the defense. aristotle spouting BS coming from his behind. Stop forcing and making it sound like he was good since he had a link to the Warriors.
He was only a good hire most of the time due to the players that were on that team and not because he is a good coach. See Lebron and Curry.
He has always been a Star Player Manager and not an actual Headcoach similar to how JKidd is.
Dolan being at the interview isn’t good, although it isn’t surprising at this point. He was not directly involved in the hiring of Fizdale or Thibs, nor any of Jackson’s hirings. I guess WWW will be there too. Two great basketball minds. What could go wrong?
Imagine firing Thibs who just took you to the ECF to hire…Mike Brown. LMAO
IMO, Brown is exactly the right guy for the job at this time. Extremely experienced and mature person, and understands it’s about the players, not him.
He’s secure enough in himself that he’ll identify what’s already working well and stay with it. He’ll find a few areas to improve on, but he’ll make it easy.
The Knicks will not get worse because of Mike Brown. I would not say the same about Taylor Jenkins.
Yeah Taylor Jenkins is the goods. Its Possible Horford is waiting on this hire. Good fit for the knick is Al.
If Horford is waiting on the hire, and will sign for 2 years, I’d hire whoever he wants. That’s how much I think of the candidates they’ve interviewed, at best, fungible mediocrities. Although, I haven’t heard much, one way or the other, on Jenkins. It’s a 1 year gig most probably anyway.
Jenkins been interviewed once and getting a second by sounds of things above. I’m surprised Spurs aren’t in on Horford too.
SAS are still hedging on all in, and they signed Kornet. If SAS got Durant, then it would be different. Horford, if he leaves BOS, I would think would want a clear co-starter type role on a team committed to next year, like GSW, LAL and NYK.
NYK job right now is a good to great job, except for the fact that it’s in NYC. It takes someone that can handle that. Kidd could. Brown can’t. Jenkins, I don’t know.