Mike Brown, New York Knicks’ New Coach
The New York Knicks have announced Mike Brown as their new coach, marking a significant change following the dismissal of Tom Thibodeau.The decision to hire Brown came after the Knicks offered the position last week, following a season in which the team reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years. Brown joins the team after being fired by the Sacramento Kings during last season. Brown led the Kings to the playoffs in 2023, their first appearance since 2006, and was named Coach of the Year. Previously, he also won the award in Cleveland, where he led the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals. Additionally, Brown has been a four-time champion as an assistant in Golden State and San Antonio, under the direction of Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich. Throughout three decades in the NBA, he has coached numerous superstars with the Warriors, Spurs, Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Kings. Brown has trained figures such as Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson; Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker; LeBron James; Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol; and De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. He was fired by the Kings in December after a 13-18 start to the season, despite having led the franchise to its first playoff appearance in 16 seasons in 2023, breaking the longest postseason drought in NBA history, and having the league’s highest-rated offense. With a combined record of 454-304 as a head coach with the Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings, Brown won his first NBA Coach of the Year award in 2009 with Cleveland. He won the award again in 2023 with Sacramento. The Knicks haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and haven’t won an NBA title since 1973.“After an exhaustive and extensive search process, we are pleased to announce Mike Brown as the head coach of the New York Knicks,” stated Leon Rose, Knicks president. “Mike has coached on the most important stages of our sport and brings a championship pedigree to our organization. His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to develop players will help us achieve a championship for our fans in New York.”
Leon Rose, President of the Knicks
