Collaboration will be a point of emphasis as Mike Brown prepares for his first season as head coach of the Knicks, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required).
Sources tell Bondy that the need to work together across the organization was stressed during the interview process after former coach Tom Thibodeau’s style was considered “too unilateral.” Brown will be expected to consult with ownership, the front office, the medical staff and player development experts, along with his assistant coaches and players, and to give serious consideration to their input.
“I had great conversations with (team owner) Mr. (James) Dolan and (president) Leon (Rose),” Brown said during his introductory press conference. “I want to form a partnership with them. It’s impossible to do this alone.”
Bondy notes that Brown has to walk a fine line of taking suggestions from multiple parties while still showing that he’s in charge of the team, rather than a “puppet” of the front office. That challenge will begin when the team opens training camp this week.
Brown will also be tasked with upgrading the offense by replacing Thibodeau’s reliance on isolations with a style that emphasizes ball movement and pace. His players have received some exposure to the new system already, and the reaction has been positive.
“I’ve talked to (Brown) a lot, and I think the big thing is just going to be a lot of player movement,” reserve guard Miles McBride said recently. “He’s giving us the foundation, and we’re just going to work off of it. So I’m really excited to see all our creativity with each other that we’ve been working on these last couple months. Really excited to see where it takes us.”
Brown is also expected to have less reliance on his starters than his predecessor, giving more players a chance to log significant minutes. Bondy theorizes that would have happened anyway after the offseason additions of Guerschon Yabusele, Jordan Clarkson and Malcolm Brogdon, but Brown is naturally more inclined than Thibodeau to use a larger rotation.
Bondy notes that the Knicks’ starting five easily led the NBA in combined minutes last season, but he sees the potential for a 10-man rotation under Brown.
Just trade Dadiet, Diawara and James N for cash and picks
Lol, this is pretty difficult to handle as a head coach. You’re sort of a puppet but if things go wrong, you’re the man in charge lol.
Sounds like another two year gig which wouldn’t be bad considering Brown’s track record of quick firings.
But if you’re him, you have to take it. Head coaching job with a great salary is better than not having a head coaching job with a great salary.
Here’s to hoping he succeeds and the Knicks do well. I think it’s great for the NBA when New York succeeds. Especially with a guy like Brunson leading the way. Love that guy. So solid.
I’m going to give a second opinion. This doesn’t sound like it’s going to end well.
Thibs did what he could to get the Knicks to succeed at the highest level. He did an amazing job, though his methods were not always appreciated.
So the question is, do you want Ball movement and not so much reliance on any one or two or three players and play the bench a lot more.., or do you want to win in whatever way possible?
I don’t think this season is going to be deemed as successful as last season.
This is college style 10 men ready, and works if you’ve got 10 guys ready to go. Does New York have that? Maybe they do, but they probably don’t.
Nobody needs your interpretation of what you believe you have read. First off why do you even believe what you read. Nobody has played a gm yet.
Brown is a two time COY. He has a ,600 winning % record as a head coach. Nobody cares about Thibs. We don’t look back in NY. We look forward. Brown has his job to do. He has a better bench than Thibs right now. And yet they are still trying to fix it.
Knicks are a contender. They are a favorite to come out the East. Rose and coach Brown understand this opportunity. The core and vets of this team understand the opportunity. We basketball people in NY understand where we are. After 20-30 gms we will know even better where we are. This team is united in its goal to win this year. Nothing is won by odds or articles. You have to play the games. Stay healthy and stay focused. Knicks to a man know where they are. You play the games to win. Knicks are part of a few 4-5 teams with a real shot this year. Time to own that……. talk is talk. We are about playing. It will be a fun year in NY 2025-26.
If Jalen Brunson averages 9APG then Brown is doing a hell of a job.
Watch OG he could be an AS this year and All-NBA 3rd team. He was amazing in the 2nd half of last season and playoffs.
Hart could win SMOY if he plays the triple double brand of ball he played last season.
Unless the Hawks mesh early (KP is healthy, Jalen Johnson is a 1st time AS) and become a contender it’s just Knicks, Cavs and maybe Bucks in East.
Cavs, Sixers, Magic, Pistons, Bucks are the teams to watch …………. Bucks could still make a trade.
Collaboration? Meaning between the “real” coaches and the 2k’ers in the NYK FO-? Hilarious. Newsflash: A team’s HC is either making decisions unilaterally (at least relative to the FO), or the team doesn’t have a HC.
This explains a lot. WWW has always thought he could coach, but has never had the chops to actually put himself out there. Truth is neither he, nor anyone else in the NYK FO, is all that good at evaluating draft age talent either. Thibs had to bail them out of two mismanaged drafts. Quickley, Grimes and McBride were all plan B picks on Thibs’ “recommendation” after plan A fell apart. That didn’t go over well with the 2k’ers who were supposed to run the draft. Apparently, collaboration wasn’t valued there.