Despite a largely successful five-year stint under Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks players are reportedly over the moon about new head coach hire Mike Brown.
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Thibodeau helped reinvigorate New York upon arriving in town in 2020. He instantly led the Knicks back to a surprise playoff appearance that spring, earning Coach of the Year honors for his efforts.
All told, Thibodeau guided the Knicks to the playoffs in four of his five seasons at the helm of the franchise, winning playoff series in three of those four appearances and advancing all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
Mike Brown's new-look Knicks
Still, there had been murmurings from players and media alike that Thibodeau was wearing out his star players, playing them big minutes and failing to develop his bench rotations in-season. In recent seasons, his offense often bogged down to letting All-NBA point guard Jalen Brunson bail the team out late in possessions.
New York ultimately let Thibodeau go in the offseason, replacing him with former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown. Brown should be able to freshen up the Knicks offense, and will have at least two new seasoned veterans to trot out on his bench in summer signings Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson.
Exhibit 9 signings Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet, and Garrison Mathews are all competing for a roster spot, too. Among that group, Shamet played for the Thibodeau-era Knicks last season.
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So how do Knicks players feel about the change?
During a fresh conversation on The Basketball Society Podcast, NBA insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson revealed just how excited the Knicks are to get an influx of energy from Brown.
"Hearing that the players are ecstatic to have Mike Brown in their system," Robinson revealed. "They felt as though they needed somebody less rigid and more methodical [than Thibodeau]. I think he's in a good position. Sacramento, he was forced out. He was dealt a bad hand [according to] everyone that I've spoken with. The Knicks think that this is the guy that can lead them to the promised land, and we'll see.
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