Former Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings head coach Mike Brown is considered the favorite to become the Knicks‘ head coach, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
The New York Post reported on Monday that Brown would be the first candidate to receive a second interview. Brown has been in New York for the past two days, according to The Stein Line. They also report that the Knicks have been telling free agents since the market opened on Monday that their lengthy search to replace Tom Thibodeau is nearing an end.
However, Brown still needs a solid endorsement from Knicks owner James Dolan before he’ll get the job.
Taylor Jenkins, Micah Nori and James Borrego are also known to have interviewed for the head coaching position. Jenkins was let go by the Grizzlies late in the regular season. Nori is one of the Timberwolves top assistants, while Borrego is New Orleans’ associate head coach after a stint as the Hornets head coach.
One scenario that the Knicks are considering is hiring Brown as their new head coach and adding Borrego as Brown’s top assistant.
The Stein Line has also hears that Rick Brunson, father of Knicks star Jalen Brunson, is expected to remain part of the Knicks’ coaching staff, as well as some of Thibodeau’s other assistants.
Safe choices aren’t always the worst ones.
Was hoping for more of an outside the box candidate. I guess he will do. NBA FINALS next year or bust
I don’t know how brown always gets fired but he is a strong coach and the players typically love him
He was able to lead a team with only LeBron James to 66 wins and hasn’t had many great rosters since (kings were good and lakers ok)
Sounds like an amazing job. We will hire your associate HC . You’re keeping Brunson’s dad and other assistants. Yea you’re in charge though . “Go gettem Mike” what a clown show
Thibs has to be dealing with deep depression knowing that he could’ve potentially lost his job to Mike Brown.
I know I am.
Right. I don’t know why they’d fire an older, conservative coach who was a retread that is more of a floor raiser than an innovator and replace him with a coach who has similar characteristics. Thibs, 13 seasons, two ECFs. Brown, 11 seasons, two ECFs and one Finals appearance. What’s the point?
agreed!!
NYK need to stop threatening their fans with this hire, and just hire him if they want to. Brown was, is and will always be a babysitter. But it’s OK, most NBA HCs are some species of that. You can win with a babysitter (you just won’t win because of one). I don’t think this NYK team is talented enough to win a championship with a babysitter, but we’ll see. Anyway, nobody need worry about the resumes of who’s on his staff. Babysitters just need to fit in the locker room and be generally liked and respected by the players. Those aren’t resume items.
I tend to agree. I’m hoping they pick a more dynamic coach with new ideas and an innovative offense. Vs this, which seems to be about keeping players happy and running a standard team.
In many places, babysitters can work well for about a year or so, particularly if the prior culture was strong. After that, no, but we’re year to year, so that’s less of a concern.
Bigger problem is this is NYC. Being a HC here is different. Some of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball couldn’t handle it. The guys who can are usually as disagreeable as the media and fanbase they have to deal with here. Not guys who spread a lot of happiness.
All that brouhaha, for Mike Brown?
Why no Johnnie Bryant?
Why hasn’t any other team hired him as their head coach?
Uch. How do these guys keep getting jobs?!?!
So precursor to the Lebron trade that ruins the Knicks?
I am a Celtic fan, full disclosure. I hate Philly more than NYKs. I actually like a lot of guys who played for the NYKs, Bernard King being one.
I am baffled by the moves. I guess i get the KAT move. But firing Thibs to hire a retread like Brown is to me, crazy.
We should hire berago. Mike Brown was already hired and fired by the Knicks.
I hate how the Knicks keep plucking coaches from the van gundy tree. Let’s pluck JB he’s from pops tree.
Im praying we hire JB.
Well, of the names that have interviewed for the job, I guess Brown’s the best.
Knicks put themselves in a tough spot when they fired Thibs. They couldn’t go the young upcoming Assistant route (Nori), or the guys that failed in their first HC jobs (Borrego). Other possibly good candidates had to be concerned by the questionable firing of Thibs and declined an interview.
I don’t believe anything the Post or espn report. I’ll wait till it gets done. What’s funny is Brown is another Thibs. What this Knicks team needs. Is more of an offensive mind. What’s become clear to me now. Is Dolan was the one who didn’t want Thibs. Rose better not lose control of team. Or all this work done in last 5 yrs. Can just get flushed away by Dolan. I rather Jenkins than Brown. I know Brown will not go over well in NY. It should be Michael Malone. Maybe the Dolan has something against him. Both NYKers.
If there is a Saint Knick ….🙏 please let it be Michael Malone.
These comments are hilarious.
According to them, Thibs and Red Auerbach are pretty much neck and neck and there’s no legitimate replacements for them – except each other.