The New York Knicks are on the hunt for a new head coach after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau.
One interesting candidate is a 55-year-old coach with a ton of experience in the NBA: Mike Brown.
Recently fired by the Sacramento Kings early in the 2024-25 season, Brown brings a diverse track record across multiple stops. A disciple of Gregg Popovich from his days with the San Antonio Spurs, Brown guided the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals.
On the other hand, Brown’s stint with the Los Angeles Lakers was brief, ending shortly into the 2012-13 season amid sky-high expectations with Dwight Howard and Steve Nash on board.
Brown later returned to Cleveland, then thrived as an assistant under Steve Kerr during the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty, absorbing championship-level strategies. His most recent achievement was ending the Kings’ 16-year playoff drought in 2023, revitalizing a stagnant franchise.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
On Tuesday, The Athletic listed Brown as a potential Thibs replacement.
“Brown, who the Sacramento Kings fired shortly into this past season, has won wherever he’s gone,” The Athletic wrote.
“A former Gregg Popovich assistant, Brown began his head-coaching career atop the LeBron James Cavaliers, helping the squad to the NBA Finals in 2007. Once James left for Miami, Brown took the job with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he coached a playoff team then famously got fired only five games into the next season, the one when the Lakers acquired Dwight Howard and Steve Nash but failed to meet massive expectations. Brown has since stopped back in Cleveland, been a sidekick to Steve Kerr during the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty and helped take the Kings to the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.”
For the Knicks, Brown would bring experience to the table, along with an ability to navigate a high-pressure market and star players. This could make Brown an ideal guy to manage Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the NYC market.
Brown’s defensive acumen could push New York toward a deeper playoff run. However, his abrupt exits from previous roles raise questions about whether or not he’d win over the locker room in New York.
Could Brown be the coach to unlock the Knicks’ championship potential, or should New York look elsewhere?
More NBA: Knicks’ summer plan to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo outlined clearly
