The New York Knicks have found themselves a new head coach for the 2025-26 season. The Knicks announced today that they are hiring Mike Brown as their next head coach, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The hire comes after the Knicks fired former head coach Tom Thibodeau, despite leading the franchise to its first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.
Brown comes to New York as a two-time Coach of the Year, having won the award with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009 and with the Sacramento Kings in 2023.
Brown has been a head coach for three NBA franchises over his 28-year coaching career, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, and two stints with the Cavaliers. He has a 454-304 head coaching record, including seven playoff appearances.
Brown was also an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, and Golden State Warriors.
He recently coached for the Sacramento Kings from 2022 to 2024, where in 2023 he helped lead the franchise to their first playoff appearance since 2006. Brown was fired from Sacramento this season after a 13-18 start.
Brown enters a much better situation than he was in Sacramento, as he will coach a team that is built to compete for an NBA Championship. The Knicks also have more talent with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.
While there is pressure on Brown to help the Knicks win their first NBA Championship since 1973, there is no doubt that he is the right hire for the franchise.
Brown has experience leading NBA teams to success in the playoffs. In his first tenure with the Cavaliers, Brown led LeBron James and the Cavaliers to an NBA Finals appearance.