As the landscape of the NBA offseason begins to shift, the New York Knicks are inching closer to a resolution in their head coach search. Following two weeks of initial interviews, the Knicks have extended a second interview invitation to Mike Brown, a notable figure in coaching circles, scheduled for Tuesday. Alongside Brown, there’s buzz around two other names: James Borrego and Micah Nori, both of whom may also get second chances to wow the organization.
The Knicks’ coaching search has seen its share of intrigue, especially with the addition of Brown and the former Memphis Grizzlies coach, Taylor Jenkins, as the first candidates to go through the interview process. Interestingly, during this careful selection, the Knicks also reached out to South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley. While she captured the attention of the organization, she currently isn’t viewed as a leading contender for the position.
This head coaching search has been quite the saga since the Knicks parted ways with Tom Thibodeau shortly after the team’s journey to the Eastern Conference finals. What’s noteworthy here is that as the only team actively seeking a head coach in the league, the Knicks have navigated through some solid talent. They even attempted to bring in well-established coaches like Ime Udoka from Houston, Jason Kidd from Dallas, Chris Finch from Minnesota, and Billy Donovan from Chicago, but those attempts were met with refusals.
Looking at Mike Brown specifically, he’s already a familiar name in the coaching ranks, having been let go by the Sacramento Kings midway through the previous season. His track record speaks volumes—having led the Kings to back-to-back 40-win seasons for the first time since the mid-2000s. Prior to that, he made a significant impact with the Cleveland Cavaliers, leading them to the NBA Finals in 2007, and had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. His experience is invaluable, and right now, he seems to be the frontrunner for the Knicks’ head coaching role.
On the other hand, James Borrego has his own compelling story. He was the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets for several seasons and guided them to 43 wins in his last year at the helm. After a season as an assistant in New Orleans, his time away has only added to his stock in the league. Known for his offensive strategies and analytics-driven approach, Borrego embodies the modern coach’s ethos.
Then there’s Micah Nori, the only candidate in the mix without prior head coaching experience. Yet, his time spent as an assistant has earned him respect, especially from players and fellow coaches alike. His creative offensive mindset has drawn attention, and many believe he’s poised for a head coaching job soon. Having been alongside Finch in Minnesota and with Dwane Casey in both Detroit and Toronto, Nori’s background equips him with a solid foundation to step into a leading role.
As the Knicks draft phase intertwines with the onset of free agency, the future looks dynamic despite financial constraints. Reports suggest they are targeting veteran scorer Jordan Clarkson, who is expected to join the Knicks once he clears waivers from the Utah Jazz after a recent buyout.
This coaching search remains a crucial chapter for the Knicks as they look to strengthen their franchise and set the pace for the upcoming season. With potential hires like Brown, Borrego, and Nori, fans can only hope the right decision is made to turn those aspirations into reality.
