The new-look coaching staff for the New York Knicks is starting to come to fruition, with the team close to making another new addition on Sunday.
Mike Brown is obviously the biggest change to the coaching staff. He was hired on July 2 to replace Tom Thibodeau. Since then, he has begun the process of filling out the rest of his staff.
Per ESPN’s Frank Isola, Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Chris Jent has become a leading candidate to join Mike Brown’s staff. Jent recently coached the Hornets’ Summer League squad to the championship this summer.
Jent has been in the coaching realm since 2003. He has spent time as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers and the Hornets in the NBA, and for Ohio State in the NCAA. He was an assistant to Mike Brown from 2006-2009 in Cleveland.
Jent has very brief head coaching experience in the NBA, filling in as an interim for the Magic in the 2004-05 season. Jent led the Magic to a 5-13 record in 18 games as head coach.
Oddly enough, Jent also has incredibly brief experience with the Knicks as an NBA player. In the 1996-97 season, Jent appeared in three games with New York, averaging 2.0 points per game.
If hired, Jent will join Rick Brunson and Brendan O’Connor while the remainder of the staff is filled out before the season begins. The expectation is that Jent would take over an offensive coordinator role of sorts if he is in fact brought in.
