Mike Brown, Knicks Receive Bad News on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dean Koutouratsas | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 3:23 PM ET

The New York Knicks ended their head coaching vacancy by signing Mike Brown to a four-year, $40 million deal.

Monday’s hiring ends a month-long search after New York’s front office fired Tom Thibodeau on June 3 after he led them to three consecutive playoff appearances. The decision to bring in Brown was made to add more experience to their squad because he is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year and four-time a champion as an assistant coach.

“Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization,” Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose said in a statement by ESPN.

“His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us to bring a championship to New York.”

However, on Tuesday, according to SNY reporter Ian Begley, the Knicks were denied access to add New Orleans Pelicans associate coach James Borrego as a lead assistant coach for Brown’s coaching staff.

Begley wrote in an X post on Wednesday afternoon that New York’s front office had interviewed Borrego as a potential head coaching candidate. However, Borrego is still under contract and regarded as too valuable for the Pelicans to give up.

“So he won’t be an option for Brown’s staff,” Begley concluded.

Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego, a Knicks target for a lead spot on Mike Brown’s staff, will be staying in New Orleans, per league sources familiar with the matter. Knicks interviewed Borrego for their head coaching position and had interest in adding him to Brown’s…
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 9, 2025

However, the rough outcome might not impact Brown’s coaching staff much because there are some of other coaches the Knicks can hire. Furthermore, they already have a coaching staff composed of Maurice Cheeks, Andy Greer, Darren Erman and Rick Brunson, the father of All-Star guard Jalen Brunson.

Rick Brunson will have a somewhat reduced role to prevent a conflict of interests from rising because his son is on the team, while Brown has the majority of the influence over the roster.

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

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