Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Mike Brown Under Most Pressure For Knicks

Originally posted on New York Knicks on SI
By Jeremy Brener | Last updated Sep 11, 2025 7:00 AM ET

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown is going into his first season on the bench with the Eastern Conference playoff contender.

Brown is the biggest transformative piece for the Knicks going into the season because he is the biggest change for a team that was six wins away from winning a championship last season.

"Perhaps no coach in the league will face as much title-or-bust pressure as Brown this season. One indication of that: Upon announcing the decision to fire Brown's predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, Knicks president Leon Rose said, "Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans." New York is coming off its best season in 25 years, which ended with two All-NBA selections and a run to the conference finals. It will be incumbent upon Brown to figure out how to get more out of the team's starting lineup and improve the club's defensive issues," ESPN analyst Chris Herring wrote.

Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown looks towards his players during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

With the responsibility of coaching one of the best teams in the league in the biggest market comes the pressure of delivering and following through. Brown has a lot of pressure, but it's something he's aware of coming into the gig.

Brown has been a head coach in the past, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals. He's also been on the winning side as an assistant coach, but never has he led a team that has housed the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

It's up to him to get the Knicks to correct the mistakes they made last year that had them fall short of a title. It's not an easy task, but he's up for it.

“Nobody has bigger expectations, first of all, than I do,” Brown said via The Athletic insider James Edwards in his introductory press conference.

“My expectations are high. This is the Knicks. I talked about Madison Square Garden being iconic. I talked about our fans. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it. I’m looking forward to it.”

If Brown can live up to the expectations, he may just be the missing piece the team needed all along.

This article first appeared on New York Knicks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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