Mike Brown reportedly schedules second interview with Knicks for head coaching job - Yahoo Sports
Mike Brown has scheduled a second interview with the New York Knicks for their head coaching vacancy and has emerged as a strong candidate for the job, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.
A respected NBA coaching veteran, Brown has worked as a head coach or assistant in the league for 24 years. He spent five seasons as the head coach of the Cavaliers from 2005-2010 during LeBron James' first stint in Cleveland. He returned to Cleveland for a single season in 2013-14 after a brief stint as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Brown was most recently the head coach of the Sacramento Kings for two-plus seasons from 2022-24. The Kings signed Brown to a three-year contract extension last June after he coached the Kings to a 94-70 (.573) record in his first two seasons on the job. The Kings then fired Brown in December following a 13-18 start.
Mike Brown has reportedly emerged as a "strong candidate" for New York's head coaching vacancy. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) (Todd Kirkland via Getty Images)Brown has a 454-304 (.599) record as a head coach across his stops with the Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings. He has seven playoff appearances in 11 seasons as a head coach and coached the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007. He's won four NBA championships as an assistant head coach with the San Antonio Spurs (1) and Golden State Warriors (3).
Brown was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2009 with the Cavaliers and again in 2023 with the Kings. Known as a players' coach, Brown would offer a departure from the hard-nosed style of dismissed Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.
Will Knicks hire Brown?
The Knicks are in search of a new coach after firing Thibodeau on June 3. New York finished 226-174 (.565) in five seasons under Thibodeau and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time since 2000. But after conducting exit interviews with players, owner James Dolan opted to dismiss the veteran head coach.
The Knicks reportedly reached out to several teams for permission to speak with active NBA head coaches, including Jason Kidd, Billy Donovan and Chris Finch about their opening. They were rebuffed each time.
The Knicks have since narrowed their focus to a group that includes active assistant coaches and former NBA head coaches. Brown and former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins reportedly emerged as the focus of their search in mid-June. Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and ex-Hornets coach James Borrego have also reportedly interviewed for the job.
It appears that Brown remains a focus of the search. It's not clear from Monday's reporting where Jenkins or the other candidates that have interviewed stand in the process.
With Mike Brown reported to schedule a second interview with the Knicks for their head coaching position, basketball enthusiasts are anticipating whether his experience and leadership can guide NYC back into its winning ways.
Yahoo Sports' report suggests an intriguing development in the coaching search as Mike Brown sets up another interview with Knicks, hinting at his growing interest or perceived solidification of strengths for LeBron James’ potential return to New York.
Mike Brown's scheduled second interview with the Knicks for their head coaching position represents a promising step towards bringing in experienced leadership to turn around New York’is fortunes.
