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Knicks reportedly have top assistant they want Mike Brown to hire

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 2:13 PM ET

The New York Knicks are hiring Mike Brown as their next head coach, and they reportedly have someone in mind they would like him to hire.

The Knicks have had a lengthy coaching search since firing Tom Thibodeau on June 3 after losing in the Eastern Conference finals. They have settled on Brown and are finalizing a contract agreement with him.

One of the coaches whom the Knicks interviewed for the vacancy was James Borrego. Though he is not getting the head coach job, Brown would like to add him to his staff as a top assistant. But that could come with complications.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the New Orleans Pelicans want to keep Borrego, who is a top assistant for them on Willie Green’s staff.

League sources tell @JakeLFischer and me, as covered in the story below, that the Knicks have interest in hiring James Borrego as Mike Brown’s top assistant … but sources tell me New Orleans’ preference is that Borrego stays as Willie Green’s top assistant. https://t.co/6PGanvyvOW
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2025

It’s customary for teams to let a coach leave for another team if they are receiving a promotion. However, if the coach would be remaining in the same position and title, the team could be within reason to decline the move.

Borrego, 47, has been an assistant coach with the Pelicans since 2023. He previously served as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets for four seasons. The Hornets went 138-163 under him and never made the postseason, though they did have a winning season in his final year 2021-2022. Borrego is highly regarded for his offensive coaching systems.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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