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After Mike Brown hiring, New York Knicks want another former LeBron James coach on their payroll

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 7:16 AM ET

Could the New York Knicks be targeting LeBron James by hiring another former head coach of his?

The New York Knicks finally made their decision on a new head coach last week. The Knicks signed Mike Brown to be their next head coach.

Many believe Brown is a great pick-up for the Knicks. After ensuring their head coach situation, the Knicks told free agents they were ready to sign players.

The first big move for the Knicks was signing former 76ers star Guerschon Yabusele. Landing such a potent bench scorer was a huge move.

The Knicks didn’t stop there, signing Jordan Clarkson after he agreed to a buyout with the Utah Jazz. It’s clear the Knicks are ready to make a big swing next season.

The New York Knicks have been linked to a LeBron James trade. Hiring Brown, LeBron’s former coach on the Cavs is a strong first step. And now they’re targeting another head coach from James’ past.

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New York Knicks interested in hiring Darvin Ham as assistant coach

According to Marc Stein, the New York Knicks are one of the teams looking to bring in Darvin Ham as an assistant coach.

They face competition from the Phoenix Suns, but unless Ham is offered a head coach role in the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks aren’t ready to let him go.

“Phoenix and now New York — after the hiring of Mike Brown as the Knicks’ new head coach — have expressed interest in trying to hire Darvin Ham away from the Bucks, The Stein Line has learned.

“I’m told the Bucks love having Ham back in their midst after his two-season stint as the Lakers’ head coach and are determined to keep him in Brewtown unless he secures another head coaching opportunity elsewhere.”

Ham was LeBron James’ coach on the LA Lakers from 2022 to 2024. During that time, the Lakers did reach the Western Conference Finals in 2023.

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LeBron James would thrive in Madison Square Garden

While Ham and LeBron have a history together, it’s unlikely that the Knicks are trying to land him for that reason.

For starters, there were reports that LeBron James didn’t like Ham’s laid-back coaching style and much prefers his successor, JJ Redick, in that role.

But even if the Knicks aren’t trying to land Ham for that reason, there is still good reason to buy into the rumors of the Knicks trading for LeBron.

James wants to compete for a championship and will reportedly consider leaving the Lakers if they aren’t in a position to compete for a championship.

The Knicks are in a good position in the Eastern Conference, with the Pacers and Celtics unlikely to compete given their injuries and roster changes.

While James did poke fun at the Knicks during a recent public event, him potentially joining the team to compete for a championship isn’t out of the question.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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