The New York Knicks are in the final stages of hiring Mike Brown as their new head coach, according to ESPN. This move concludes a lengthy process following the Knicks’ surprising choice to part ways with former Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau after their six-game loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks had considered numerous candidates but ultimately settled on Brown to lead the team into the 2025-26 season. Thibodeau, who was dismissed in early June after five seasons, held a 226-174 record with the team and led them to a promising 51-31 record and the third seed in the East during the 2024-25 season.
The team expressed interest in several current coaches, including Ime Udoka, Jason Kidd, Billy Donovan, and Quin Snyder, but none were persuaded to leave their current teams. Other interviewed candidates included Taylor Jenkins, James Borrego, Mika Nori, and Brown. The Knicks also reached out to South Carolina women’s coach Dawn Staley, though she was not a finalist.
Brown’s coaching path is somewhat unconventional. He began head coaching with the Cleveland Cavaliers during LeBron James’ rise to superstardom, taking the team to the NBA Finals in 2007 before being let go when James left in 2010. He then coached the Lakers during Kobe Bryant’s prime but was dismissed early in the 2012-13 season. He returned to Cleveland briefly before James’ comeback but was fired again just prior.
Brown spent six seasons as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors under Steve Kerr, a team that embodies the style the Knicks aspire to replicate — emphasizing fast-paced offense and strong bench utilization, areas where Thibodeau was notably lacking. Brown later led the Sacramento Kings to their first playoff appearance in 19 years, achieving the team’s highest offensive efficiency in NBA history and pushing the Warriors to a seven-game first-round series. Despite this success, the Kings’ inability to sustain momentum led to Brown’s firing after they missed the playoffs last season.
Though Brown has yet to win an NBA championship as a head coach, he is a two-time Coach of the Year (2009 and 2023) and is no stranger to the pressures this new role will bring. With the Pacers and Celtics facing setbacks, the Knicks decided to move forward with Brown, hoping he can guide them toward a championship.
Fan Take: This coaching change is significant for basketball fans because it signals a fresh direction for the Knicks after steady but unfulfilled potential under Thibodeau. Mike Brown’s experience with top-tier talent and successful systems could usher in an exciting era for the team and shake up the Eastern Conference dynamics.
