The New York Knicks continue building their coaching staff following Mike Brown’s hiring as head coach.
The organization has reportedly received permission to interview Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni for a potential staff position.
Prigioni brings unique familiarity with the franchise, having played for the Knicks from 2012-2015. The Argentine guard made NBA history by becoming the oldest rookie at age 35 when he joined the Knicks.
Despite his brief playing tenure, Prigioni developed a strong connection with the fanbase through his intelligent play and defensive instincts.
His return generates excitement among supporters who remember his contributions during those seasons.
The timing proves strategic given Prigioni’s recent experience coaching Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota.
Many Knicks fans hope Towns can achieve greater consistency, making Prigioni’s expertise valuable for maximizing the center’s potential.
Prigioni has served as Minnesota’s offensive coordinator since 2019, working directly with Towns throughout that period.
His understanding of Towns’ strengths and weaknesses could benefit the Knicks’ efforts to optimize their star center’s production and defensive aspects.
The coaching connection extends beyond player development. Gersson Rosas, who originally hired Prigioni in Minnesota, now works as a Knicks executive, creating organizational familiarity that could smooth the transition.
Fans have responded positively to potential reunion discussions on social media.
“Pablo coming back is gonna heat up those Ant-to-Knicks talk,” one supporter wrote, referencing possible Anthony Edwards interest in joining former coaches.
Prigioni’s playing career featured exceptional court vision and defensive awareness that impressed New York fans.
His ability to create fun-to-watch assists and generate steals through smart positioning made him a fan favorite despite limited athleticism.
“Everyone gonna be getting sneaky inbounds steals before you know it,” another fan wrote, referencing Prigioni’s signature defensive plays that could influence current roster development.
“Elite basketball mind, fluent in player dev, and loved in New York,” one fan posted about the potential hire.
Another fan highlighted recent reunion trends across the league, writing “Dame went home. CP3 went home. We bringing our GOAT home.”
The Prigioni pursuit represents an alternative approach after the Knicks’ unsuccessful attempt to hire Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch.
Rather than targeting Minnesota’s top coaching figure, New York seeks to acquire organizational knowledge through assistants.
This strategy could provide insight into Minnesota’s player development methods and offensive systems that helped Towns improve certain aspects of his game.
And, Prigioni’s dual experience as former player and current coach creates unique qualifications for helping the Knicks maximize their current roster construction.
