The New York Knicks are closing in on finalizing the hiring of Mike Brown as their new head coach, a move that signals the franchise’s ambitions for the upcoming season. This transition comes just a little over a month after the team parted ways with Tom Thibodeau, who had guided them through one of their most successful seasons in recent memory, clinching 51 wins—marking their highest total in over a decade—and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Brown arrives in New York with a wealth of experience, most recently from his tenure with the Sacramento Kings, where he spent over two seasons and even signed a three-year extension last June. However, following a sluggish 13-18 start last year, the Kings decided to make a change, parting ways with Brown in December. Despite this setback, Brown has a proven track record as a two-time NBA Coach of the Year and a four-time champion as an assistant coach, boasting an impressive career record of 454 wins against 304 losses. His most notable achievement came when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007.
This opportunity with the Knicks marks Brown’s fifth head coaching position in the league. His previous stints include leading the Los Angeles Lakers and two different tenures with the Cavaliers, coupled with experience as an assistant coach with notable franchises like the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, and Golden State Warriors. Interestingly, Brown was actually in the mix for the Knicks’ coaching position back in 2020, but the team ultimately opted for Thibodeau.
The road to securing Brown’s services wasn’t simple. The Knicks’ search process featured numerous candidates—names like Jason Kidd from the Dallas Mavericks, Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks, Billy Donovan with the Chicago Bulls, Ime Udoka from the Houston Rockets, and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves all turned down interview requests. Additionally, they evaluated assistant coach Micah Nori of the Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins before settling on Brown.
With the imminent arrival of Mike Brown, the Knicks are gearing up with a sense of optimism, aiming to build on the momentum from last season. As they enter the 2025-26 campaign, the focus will be on harnessing Brown’s extensive experience to take the franchise further in its quest for success. Fans will be watching closely as this new chapter unfolds.
