The New York Knicks are exploring options as they look to hire a new head coach.
The big decision to fire Tom Thibodeau has put the New York Knicks front office in the spotlight.
Knicks fans are worried about the pursuit of head coaches already in a job, while analysts have blasted their strategy as ‘ridiculous’.
There are two prominent names on the Knicks’ radar who are available, who lost their jobs this past season.
The duo are former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown and former Memphis Grizzlies’ leader Taylor Jenkins.
Mike Brown is a former NBA Coach of the Year, who ran out of road with the Sacramento Kings late in 2024.
One hurdle he would not have to overcome is having to win over the Knicks’ star player Jalen Brunson.
Brunson made his feelings on Mike Brown very clear in March 2024, when he praised the impact the coach has had at the Sacramento Kings.
Brunson was quoted via NBA.com: “They’re a great team, explosive on offense and Mike [Brown] has done a great job coaching them here.
“They present a lot of problems on that side of the ball,” he added, referring to the tough defense he had to play against.
Looking at the potential partnership the other way, Mike Brown has high admiration for Jalen Brunson.
Speaking following a Kings-Knicks’ match-up last year, he commented: “Man, he’s a hell of a player. I don’t know if we’ve blitzed anyone as much as Jalen,maybe Steph. Yet, he still scored 42 points.
“Jalen shot 50 percent from three and over 50 percent from the field, even though we sent a double-team at him every single time he came off the pick-and-roll in the second half.”
At the moment Mike Brown is just a candidate for the Knicks, one of several. But if he can get the front office approval, he will certainly be excited to start work with Brunson.
