Latest news with #LeonRose
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks Set To Hire Mike Brown As New Head Coach
Knicks Set To Hire Mike Brown As New Head Coach originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The New York Knicks are closing in on their next head coach, and it's a name with both pedigree and championship experience. According to senior ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Knicks are expected to hire two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown to lead the franchise into its next phase. After a month-long search following the surprising firing of Tom Thibodeau, Knicks president Leon Rose appears to have made his choice. Brown brings with him a wealth of experience, having coached across three decades in the NBA. He is a four-time NBA champion as an assistant, winning titles with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs under Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich. His resume includes guiding teams with elite defensive identities, but his most recent accomplishment was shaping the Sacramento Kings into an offensive juggernaut in 2022–23, the top-rated offense in the NBA that season. His time in Sacramento ended unexpectedly in December 2024, when the Kings fired him midseason. The decision was widely criticized across the league, with many believing Brown was unfairly dismissed despite his efforts to transform a perennial lottery team into a playoff contender. Now, just months later, he lands in the biggest market in the league with a chance to coach one of the most promising rosters in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are coming off their best season in over two decades. They finished third in the East with a 51–31 record and made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. However, after losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games, the front office shocked fans and analysts by firing Tom Thibodeau. While the move raised eyebrows, it was clearly the beginning of a vision shift and now, Mike Brown will be tasked with building upon that momentum. Brown inherits a deep, talented, and versatile roster. Jalen Brunson has emerged as a true superstar and leader of the team, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges bring scoring and spacing. OG Anunoby and Josh Hart offer elite perimeter defense and hustle, giving Brown a core group tailor-made for two-way basketball. The challenge will be to balance that defensive identity with a modernized, efficient offense, something Brown has proven capable of managing. New York's coaching search was exhaustive. Leon Rose reportedly requested permission to interview five sitting NBA head coaches but was denied each time. The front office then pivoted to multi-round interviews with several free-agent candidates. Brown impressed throughout and was seen as the best blend of experience, flexibility, and leadership. This hire signals a strong belief in the current roster's ability to contend now, without blowing up the foundation built under Thibodeau. Brown's reputation as a steady presence, with championship acumen and locker room respect, could be exactly what the Knicks need to clear the next hurdle: reaching the NBA Finals. As the Knicks aim to build on their 2025 success, Mike Brown will be at the helm, poised to guide a hungry, rising squad through the East's gauntlet. This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Will The New York Knicks Offer An Extension To Mitchell Robinson?
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 13: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against ... More Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks during the first half at TD Garden on November 13, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by) Mitchell Robinson is easily the longest tenured New York Knicks player after completing his seventh season with the organization in June. There has been a ton of turnover with the roster over the past 25 years, and that has included the past few years with Leon Rose steering the ship. That could continue this season. Robinson is in the last year of a four-year, $60 million extension that he signed after the 2021-22 season. Based on how the Knicks have operated in the past it would be quite odd for them to just let this season play out and then make a decision on what to do with him. Just like Mikal Bridges, time is of the essence to make a commitment on a player that will play a pivotal role this upcoming season. Let's look at the reasons for why they will and won't extend the 27-year-old this summer: Why They Will There has been no true indication from Mike Brown on who he plans to start this upcoming season. Some of the rumblings before the head coach was picked indicated that the front office could be leaning toward a lineup in which Mitchell Robinson starts next to Karl-Anthony Towns. Once again, that conversation is a bit premature but it is a signal that Robinson factors into playing a large part for the team this year. Even if the coaching staff views Towns as a center for the majority of his minutes the team will still need lineup flexibility to play with a double big lineup in order to ramp up the defense. During the playoffs the Knicks allowed 106.2 points per 100 possessions with both Robinson and Towns on the floor, which would have ranked as the best mark in the league during the regular season. That speaks to the impact that Robinson had during the postseason. He performed the best on the team relative to expectations and did so with the verve that would have made him a defensive player of the year candidate. This possession against the Boston Celtics showed off his ability to take on a drive and then dart over to the 3-point arc to cover an open shooter. His ability to change the game on defense obviously adds an additional play style that becomes important during the postseason, but so does his offensive rebounding. Poor shooting games are inevitable for any team during a small sample size, and Robinson can swing those games back into the Knicks' favor by giving them additional possessions. He has been in the 96th percentile or better at his position for offensive rebounding in every season for the past four years. That skill set is a unique force that gives the Knicks the opportunity to diversify the way it attacks a series, which is really the point of this new era of New York basketball— provide the most options to win against a variety of play styles. Robinson gives them that tool. Why They Won't The best lineup configuration for the Knicks is to have Karl-Anthony Towns at the center position in order to maximize the effectiveness of the team's offense. New York had the 2nd best offensive rating in the NBA over the first 41 games last season with Towns only playing the center position. Things changed over the back half of the year for a variety of reasons, but one was a failure to maximize Towns at the five when non-centers were guarding him. The hope is that Brown finds the magic elixir that allows the Knicks to thrive with a dominant offense that highlights the best traits of Towns at center. The organization is fixated on winning a championship and part of that calculation is keeping players on board that can help them reach that goal. Robinson has shown plenty of promise, but has failed to consistently make it to the court to prove it. He has missed over 100 regular season games over the past two years, which doesn't include the seven games he missed during the playoffs in 2024. His durability has always been a question, and that becomes even more a part of the calculation as he becomes older. Let's say, hypothetically, that the Knicks are able to work out a contract with Bridges, but it comes in at four years, $156 million. It would all but guarantee that the Knicks would have to go into the 2nd apron to extend Robinson. The team may be willing to do that as a part of their championship window, but it's more likely they extend Bridges and figure out what to do with Robinson after the season. The team may be ready to make some sort of consolidation trade at that point and Robinson would figure to factor into the scenario.
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
‘Nobody has bigger expectations than I do': New coach Mike Brown leads Knicks into new era
DUBAI: The New York Knicks have officially appointed Mike Brown as their new head coach, marking a fresh chapter for one of the NBA's most storied franchises. A two-time NBA Coach of the Year with deep playoff experience, Brown brings leadership, structure, and a championship pedigree to New York. The appointment was confirmed this week, with Knicks President Leon Rose commenting: 'Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization.' The Knicks will face the Philadelphia 76ers in two NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 preseason matchups on Oct. 2 and 4. The NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi announced that the games, presented by ADQ, will take place at Yas Island's Etihad Arena. While Abu Dhabi has hosted NBA preseason action since 2022, this will be New York's first appearance in Abu Dhabi. Brown takes charge following the Knicks' strongest season in decades. Under Tom Thibodeau, the team reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, reigniting hopes of a return to championship contention. Still, the front office felt a fresh voice was needed to elevate the team further. Speaking on his appointment, Brown said: 'Nobody has bigger expectations, first of all, than I do. My expectations are high. This is the Knicks. I talked about Madison Square Garden being iconic. I talked about our fans. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it. I'm looking forward to it.' A seasoned veteran, Brown has coached an elite roster of talent throughout his career. As head coach, he worked with NBA legends LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, and as an assistant, he coached NBA all-time greats, including Stephen Curry and Tim Duncan. He led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals, won four NBA championships as an assistant, and earned Coach of the Year honors in both 2009 and 2023. Now, he takes over a Knicks team brimming with championship aspirations, aiming to capture their first title since 1973. Leading the charge are two-time All-Star Jalen Brunson, five-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, and 2022 NBA All-Defensive First Team member Mikal Bridges. 'Our goal is to build a sustainable, winning culture that produces championships,' Brown said. 'That's why I'm here.' The 76ers, their Abu Dhabi opponents, boast a powerful roster that includes 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid, nine-time All-Star Paul George, and 2024 All-Star Tyrese Maxey. These NBA Abu Dhabi Games present a valuable opportunity for Brown to build chemistry, test rotations, and get the roster in sync ahead of the regular season.
CNN
08-07-2025
- Sport
- CNN
New York Knicks hire Mike Brown as new head coach
The New York Knicks have confirmed the hiring of Mike Brown as the team's new head coach. Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, replaces Tom Thibodeau, who was fired by the Knicks last month after guiding the franchise to its deepest playoff run in 25 years. The 55-year-old Brown was surprisingly fired by the Sacramento Kings in December, just months after he had signed a contract extension. Brown was most recently named Coach of the Year in the 2022-23 season after leading the Kings to a 48-34 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history. 'Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization,' Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. 'His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans.' Brown was also named Coach of the Year in 2009 after guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers to a league-best 66 wins, two years after reaching the NBA Finals. He was on the coaching staff for the San Antonio Spurs team that won the 2003 NBA title, and the Golden State Warriors' coaching staff for their 2017, 2018 and 2022 championships. The Knicks are in a strong position in the Eastern Conference heading into the new season, with fellow title hopefuls the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers suffering huge Achillies injury blows to star men Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively. All Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns proved a potent offensive duo in their first season together in New York as the team made the Eastern Conference Finals.
CNN
08-07-2025
- Sport
- CNN
New York Knicks hire Mike Brown as new head coach
The New York Knicks have confirmed the hiring of Mike Brown as the team's new head coach. Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, replaces Tom Thibodeau, who was fired by the Knicks last month after guiding the franchise to its deepest playoff run in 25 years. The 55-year-old Brown was surprisingly fired by the Sacramento Kings in December, just months after he had signed a contract extension. Brown was most recently named Coach of the Year in the 2022-23 season after leading the Kings to a 48-34 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history. 'Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization,' Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. 'His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans.' Brown was also named Coach of the Year in 2009 after guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers to a league-best 66 wins, two years after reaching the NBA Finals. He was on the coaching staff for the San Antonio Spurs team that won the 2003 NBA title, and the Golden State Warriors' coaching staff for their 2017, 2018 and 2022 championships. The Knicks are in a strong position in the Eastern Conference heading into the new season, with fellow title hopefuls the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers suffering huge Achillies injury blows to star men Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively. All Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns proved a potent offensive duo in their first season together in New York as the team made the Eastern Conference Finals.
