‘I love this hire’… Paul Pierce has strong response to New York Knicks appointing Mike Brown

Paul Pierce says Mike Brown can take the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals

The Knicks’ decision to fire coach Thibodeau came in light of the team’s humiliating Eastern Conference Finals defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

While Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first ECF appearance in 25 years, Pierce believes Brown can take the team one step further – the NBA Finals.

“I love this hire. There were only a few people who could get the Knicks to the Finals that I had in mind. Mike Brown was actually one of them,” Pierce said on FOX Sports’ SPEAK.

He added: “Getting Mike Brown, a guy with the experience that he’s had, he’s a player’s coach. This is what they needed.”

Brown has won four NBA Championships during his career, albeit as an assistant coach. That includes three under the Golden State Warriors‘ Steve Kerr and one under the legendary Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.

As Pierce mentioned, Brown will likely bring a championship pedigree to the current team of the Knicks.

Paul Pierce explains how Mike Brown is different than Tom Thibodeau

Pierce labeled Brown as a ‘players’ coach.’ That’s the biggest difference between Brown and Thibs, per the 2008 NBA champion.

“Thibs is a coach’s coach. They needed a player’s coach, who can understand them, who can understand what they need, who can put them in a system where they can thrive on both sides of the ball,” Pierce continued.

Indeed, the Knicks were in need of someone like Brown. After all, there were reports that one Knicks player demanded Thibodeau’s firing to return to the team.

“And you need a coach who can deal with the New York media, and Mike Brown has been that. He’s been in situations,” Pierce concluded.

Handling the New York media is not easy, but the Celtics legend trusts Brown to do an excellent job there as well.