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Mike Brown’s key achievements, New York Knicks head coach’s biggest accolades, records, and more

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 8:00 PM ET

Mike Brown has experienced the ups and downs of the NBA head coaching journey.

When the New York Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau, there were plenty of accomplished names thrown out there by the media and fans alike.

However, after weeks of searching, the Knicks announced Mike Brown as the organization’s next head coach. Brown already has important tasks to take care of for the Knicks.

But before coach Brown makes his debut with the Knicks, let’s take a look at his journey so far, including his time as an NBA player.

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Mike Brown’s playing and early NBA coaching career

The Chicago Bulls selected Mike Brown with the 69th overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft and immediately sent him overseas. Upon return, Brown spent just two seasons with the Bulls before signing with the Utah Jazz.

He found some stability in Utah, spending a career-high five seasons with the team. Considering Brown averaged just 17.5 minutes per game for his career, he was bound to become an NBA journeyman.

So when he spent the final four years of his career juggling around the Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and Phoenix Suns, it came as no surprise.

After his exit from the league in 1997, Brown continued playing overseas but also joined the Washington Wizards as an assistant coach.

Following a two-year stint with the Wizards, Brown took a break and returned as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs in 2000. This time around, Brown spent three seasons with the organization.

He later joined the Indiana Pacers for a two-year stint before ultimately joining the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach. A year later, Brown landed the first NBA head coaching job of his career with the Cavs.

Mike Brown’s NBA coaching career has been full of highs and lows

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When Brown took over the head coaching duties for the Cavs, the team was home to none other than LeBron James. During Brown’s five-year tenure, the Cavs went 272-138.

The Cavaliers were a dominant force in the Eastern Conference as they never missed the postseason during that stretch. They also made it to the 2009 NBA Finals, the same season in which Brown won the NBA’s Coach of the Year award.

However, along with LBJ’s exit from the Cavs in 2010 for the Miami Heat, so did Brown. The only difference? Brown signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

As Shams Charania predicted, Brown was never a good fit in LA. The former Coach of the Year was fired by the Lakers after just 71 games. He then returned to Cleveland for a one-year stint for the 2013-14 season.

Brown would go on to spend the next six seasons as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors before joining the Sacramento Kings as their head coach.

In his first season with the Kings, Brown ended the team’s 16-year playoff drought and took home the second Coach of the Year award of his career. But the Kings quickly lost trust in Brown as he was fired after 31 games during the 2024-25 season.

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

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