Knicks Finally Schedule Interviews for 2 'Leading' Head Coach Prospects

Per Shams Charania of ESPN, New York brass has now scheduled the "first formal interviews" to replace former five-year head coach Tom Thibodeau, who was canned after bringing the franchise to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter century.

Charania reports that the Knicks will be talking to two coaching free agents about the position. Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins and ex-Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown are set to speak with the Knicks about the opening next week.

According to James L. Edwards of The Athletic, these are not frivolous interviews. Both Jenkins and Brown are considered to be "leading" contenders for the job.

Brown, 55, has won four championships as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors — making him a disciple of coaching greats Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr. As a head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, he boasts a 454-304 (.599) overall regular season record and a 50-40 playoff record (.556), which includes one NBA Finals appearance with Cleveland in 2007.

Jenkins, 40, was an assistant coach under another free agent, Mike Budenholzer, on the staffs of the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. With Memphis — his first head coaching gig — Jenkins went 250-214 (.539) during the regular season and 9-14 across three playoff appearances.