In his introductory press conference, the new Knicks coach, Mike Brown, shared that he set out to take his fiancée to several restaurants in the city after getting the job.According to Brown, this was necessary, as he probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to do so once the season started.
Brown, officially hired on Monday as the 32nd coach in team history, takes on a big challenge. He replaces coach Tom Thibodeau, whom Brown repeatedly called a friend, after the previous Knicks coach was fired following the team’s best playoff run in 25 years. New York, which has reached the playoffs in four of the last five years, is coming off two consecutive seasons with 50 wins for the first time since the mid-1990s.Brown, 55, avoided criticizing his predecessor. He refrained from revealing details, whether about the difficulties of the starting lineup in the second half of the season or about defensive strategies, about how he might alter the Knicks’ style of play. The closest thing to something definitive was to say that he would combine his offensive and defensive philosophies to ensure they fit the club’s talented personnel. Everything else will be focused on more once he completes his coaching staff in the coming weeks and has more conversations with his players, he said.However, he directly addressed the issue of expectations.When asked what it meant to take over a club that had just dismissed its coach after falling just two wins short of the NBA Finals, Brown suggested it didn’t faze him. “Nobody has higher expectations than me. My expectations are high,” he said. “These are the Knicks and Madison Square Garden. It’s iconic. … I love and embrace the expectations that come with it.”Brown knows what it’s like to be held to an incredibly high standard.The two-time Coach of the Year led the Cavs to their first NBA Finals in 2007 before losing his job in 2010. Cleveland then rehired him in 2013, only to let him go at the end of that season. The Lakers fired him just five games into his second season in 2013. And then, in December, the Sacramento Kings, whom Brown had led to the playoffs in 2023 after a long 16-season drought, opted to fire him as well after a 13-18 start to the season.The league is the league: there will always be ups and downs regarding how the hiring and firing process goes.Brown, who has won four NBA titles as an assistant with the Spurs and the Warriors, spoke enthusiastically about several Knicks players. Jalen Brunson’s versatility, as well as the distinct styles of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, give Brown endless options on offense, he said. Brown also referenced the depth provided by newcomers Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele.There’s a lot of work to be done. But I’m eager to start.
Mike Brown
Among the most important parts of the job, Brown said, would be to hold his players accountable, and for them to do the same with him. The coach has long been known for his willingness to criticize his teams, whether publicly or behind closed doors.
At the end of the day, it’s about relationships. It’s about trust. Once you cultivate those relationships, then you can talk openly about anything you need to go in the direction you need. I’m going to be open and honest with them, and I’m sure they will be open and honest with me.
Mike Brown
