A Dark Horse New York Knicks Head Coach Candidate Has Emerged

The search for the next New York Knicks head coach continues. New York has held interviews with former Sacramento Kings Head Coach Mike Brown and former Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins. A report came out that they are now eyeing Pelicans Associate Head Coach James Borrego, according to James L Edwards III of The Athletic. 

All Options Are Being Considered For New York Knicks Head Coach 

It seems a little surprising that the Knicks are considering Borrego, given that the meetings New York had with  Brown and Jenkins were reportedly “impressive” and spanned multiple days. Borrego was the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2018-2022. His coaching record with Charlotte isn’t that impressive, as his overall record was 138-163 and the Hornets finished above .500 in one of the four seasons. 

There’s been no reporting on anything that’s taken place between the Knicks and Borrego for New York Knicks head coach besides that the Knicks are interested in interviewing him. Brown and Jenkins seem higher on the Knicks radar than Borrego, which makes sense. 

What Makes Brown and Jenkins More Intriguing 

Brown’s tenure with the Sacramento Kings was a huge success. In his first two seasons with Sacramento, he won over 45 games and led the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 17 years. Brown also led the Kings to back-to-back winning seasons. The first time the franchise had accomplished that feat in nearly two decades. Brown should be a top target for New York because he will inherit a roster that is a contender, and he’s a coach who knows how to win. 

Jenkins was the Grizzlies head coach for six seasons, with four out of the six being winning seasons. He had one blip in the radar in 2023-2024 when the Grizzlies went 27-55, but overall, he had a solid run with Memphis. Brown and Jenkins both seem like top candidates for New York Knicks head coach due to their winning pedigrees and the Knicks’ need for a head coach with a proven track record and experience. All of that adds to why the interest in New York in Borrego is a bit puzzling.