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Mike Brown comments on Josh Hart two years ago show deep respect for New York Knicks star

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Jun 15, 2025 10:48 AM ET

Mike Brown’s comments on Josh Hart after a New York Knicks game show how much he valued the player.

The New York Knicks’ head coach hunt is starting to ramp up. After firing Tom Thibodeau with seemingly no succession plan, the Knicks have had quite the rollercoaster ride.

Jason Kidd was at the top of the wishlist for the Knicks from Day 1. But after the Mavericks and many other NBA teams rejected requests to interview their coaches, the Knicks looked to the open market.

Soon after, Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins were named as potential head coach candidates. Brown reportedly has the support of Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson.

While Taylor Jenkins has long been a fan of Mikal Bridges, it appears the former Sacramento Kings head coach feels the same way about another Nova Knicks member.

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Mike Brown impressed by Josh Hart’s performance vs. Sacramento Kings

In March of 2023, the Sacramento Kings defeated the New York Knicks 122-117. But the soon-to-be NBA Coach of the Year wasn’t happy with how his team played.

In particular, Brown credited Josh Hart for his great performance. He lamented how the Kings failed to guard Hart in the paint, allowing him to grab 15 rebounds in the loss.

“We were not good. I was extremely disappointed in our inability to box out, let alone rebound. Josh Hart just kicked our a**. He kicked our a**. Nobody put a body on him the entire night.”

“Give the Knicks a lot of credit. Good ball club. (Thibodeau) has done a heck of a job with them. They’re physical. They try to play the game the right way. You feel them throughout.”

Brown’s words here will give Knicks fans two causes for optimism. First is his admiration for Josh Hart, who has become a crucial player in the Knicks’ system, despite his recent failures in the playoffs.

But second, and perhaps more importantly, was how Brown held his team accountable despite them winning the game. A coach who demands the best of his players and never settles for less might be exactly what the Knicks need.

Mike Brown could be the coach to win New York Knicks a championship

The Knicks’ goal in their coaching hunt is very simple – find the person who can take this team to an NBA championship.

Brown has shown that when given the opportunity, he can get some strong results with any team. His stint with the Kings ended unceremoniously when the team fired him in the middle of the season.

But just a few years before that, he was responsible for breaking the Kings’ 16-year playoff drought. While they eventually lost to the Warriors in the first round, it was a great accomplishment.

Now, if you make him the New York Knicks head coach, he will have a far better roster and he can accomplish a lot with them.

The Knicks are set to interview both Brown and Jenkins in the coming days. It will be interesting to see in which direction Leon Rose and the front office go.

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

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