Mike Brown, the expected new head coach of the New York Knicks, will have full control over assembling his coaching staff. According to Ian Begley of SportsNet New York, Brown was informed during his interview that the Knicks would not require him to retain any of Tom Thibodeau’s former assistants. This marks a significant change in approach for the franchise.
Brown is widely anticipated to bring on Rick Brunson, Darren Ermann, Mark Bryant, and Maurice Cheeks as part of his staff. However, the final decisions will rest solely with him as he evaluates his options moving forward.
The Knicks currently have assistants Daniel Brady, Rick Brunson, Mark Bryant, Maurice Cheeks (associate head coach), Darren Erman, Andy Greer, and Daisuke Yoshimoto on the roster. Brown’s new team could feature some familiar names but also likely new hires.
Brown emerged as the Knicks’ preferred coaching candidate after an extensive search led by team president Leon Rose. The Knicks had sought to interview five NBA head coaches but were denied permission, prompting a wider look at available candidates.
A two-time NBA Coach of the Year, Brown most recently coached the Sacramento Kings. He led them to a 48-34 record and their first playoff berth since 2006 in the 2022-23 season. Despite a strong previous year, Sacramento fired him in December 2024 following a 13-18 start.
Before coaching the Kings, Brown served 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 across his coaching career.
The Knicks finished the 2024-25 season with a 51-31 record, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They advanced to the Conference Finals before losing to the Indiana Pacers.
