NEW YORK — The New York Knicks have taken a significant step towards appointing Mike Brown as their new head coach. An individual with inside knowledge indicated on Wednesday that negotiations are underway to complete a contract with the renowned two-time NBA Coach of the Year.
Brown is set to succeed Tom Thibodeau, who was dismissed last month despite steering the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals in a quarter of a century. Brown was offered the role following his second interview with the franchise on Tuesday. The individual, who requested anonymity due to the confidentiality of the proceedings, revealed that the coaching position had been offered to Brown.
The decision to hire Brown was initially reported by ESPN. Brown gained acclaim by leading the Sacramento Kings to the playoffs in the 2022-23 season, breaking the league’s longest playoff absence since 2006. However, despite these achievements, his tenure with the Kings ended roughly midway through last season.
In taking the reins of the Knicks, Brown will be at the helm of a team that is firmly focused on securing an NBA championship. The organization made their championship aspirations clear when they unexpectedly parted ways with Thibodeau, himself a two-time recipient of the NBA’s Coach of the Year honor.
From early on, Brown was seen as a prime candidate for the position. The Knicks also considered other possible candidates, including former Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins, as well as current assistants James Borrego from New Orleans and Micah Nori from Minnesota, before deciding to extend the offer to Brown.
Brown first claimed the Coach of the Year award while leading the Cleveland Cavaliers. He famously guided the organization to the NBA Finals in 2007 during his initial stint. His career also includes a term as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and a commendable 454-304 career coaching record.
Furthermore, Brown boasts four championships from his time as an assistant coach, three with the Golden State Warriors and an additional one under the direction of Gregg Popovich in San Antonio.
Details regarding Brown’s coaching staff are expected to emerge in the upcoming days. Thibodeau’s exit marked the end of an era where he led the Knicks to their most consistent period of success in two decades, achieving four playoff appearances over five seasons, with the team reaching at least the Eastern Conference semifinals in the past three consecutive seasons and recording 50-win campaigns in the last two.