New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown has reportedly secured a key addition to his coaching team. Chris Jent, who was an assistant with the Charlotte Hornets, has agreed to join Brown’s staff as the associate head coach, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Jent led the Hornets to a perfect 6-0 record, winning the NBA Summer League championship and initially worked alongside Brown in Charlotte. With 17 seasons as an NBA assistant coach spread across eight teams, Jent also has experience as the head coach of the D-League Bakersfield Jam and as an assistant coach at Ohio State, his alma mater.
Following a four-year playing career with the Buckeyes, Jent played professionally in the CBA and overseas in Italy, Spain, and Greece.
Previously, Brown aimed to hire James Borrego, the New Orleans Pelicans’ associate coach, but Borrego remained under contract. Brown also considered Indiana Pacers assistant Mike Weiner, who chose to stay with the Pacers for family reasons.
Moving quickly, Brown appointed Jent as the Knicks’ associate head coach, where he will serve as the “offensive coordinator.” Brendan O’Connor takes on the role of “defensive coordinator,” and Tyrone Lue will join the coaching staff alongside Brown from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Knicks brought in Brown as head coach after dismissing Tom Thibodeau following five seasons, despite leading the team to their first conference finals in 25 years. Several high-profile candidates, including Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka, Quinn Snyder, Chris Finch, and Billy Donovan, were off-limits for interviews.
While Rick Brunson, Jordan Brink, Mark Bryant, Maurice Cheeks, and Darren Elman stayed on from Thibodeau’s staff, Brown also added Charles Allen and Riccardo Forde from the Sacramento Kings and integrated O’Connor and Jent to strengthen the coaching lineup.
Fan Take: This coaching shakeup signifies the Knicks’ commitment to a fresh and dynamic approach, particularly with Jent’s offensive expertise promising to reshape their playing style. For basketball fans, it’s an exciting step towards renewed competitiveness and innovation in one of the league’s most storied franchises.
