The New York Knicks are expected to hire Mike Brown as their next head coach, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. This decision comes after a detailed search following the firing of Tom Thibodeau in early June. Knicks president Leon Rose explored multiple candidates before settling on Brown.
Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, most recently coached the Sacramento Kings. He led them to a 48-34 record and their first playoff appearance since 2006 during the 2022-23 season. His work earned him the distinction of being the first coach to win the Coach of the Year award unanimously.
Despite a strong previous season, the Kings dismissed Brown on December 27, 2024, after a 13-18 start in the current campaign. The team’s recent struggles culminated in a narrow loss to the Detroit Pistons, which sealed his fate. His offensive system, however, was highly rated and effective during his tenure.
Before Sacramento, Brown worked as a top assistant under Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors and Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. He has been part of four NBA championship teams and coached across three decades, gaining experience with various star players.
The Knicks requested permission to interview five NBA head coaches but were denied. They then conducted interviews with available candidates, narrowing down the selection through multiple rounds. Brown emerged as the preferred choice.
The Knicks finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 51-31 record, securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics in the playoffs before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals.
