The New York Knicks are set to hire Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, as their next head coach, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Knicks president Leon Rose conducted a thorough month-long search after firing Tom Thibodeau, interviewing multiple candidates including former Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins and Pelicans associate coach James Borrego.
Brown, who won Coach of the Year honors in 2009 with Cleveland and in 2023 with Sacramento, brings extensive experience from stints with the Cavaliers, Lakers, Kings, Warriors, and Spurs. He led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007 and ended the Kings’ 16-year playoff drought in 2023. Despite being fired by Sacramento last December, Brown’s reputation as a strategic leader with a 454-304 career record and experience coaching stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry made him the Knicks’ top choice.
The Knicks hope Brown’s leadership will guide them back to championship contention, having last reached the NBA Finals in 1999 and won a title in 1973.
