Apr 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau speaks to his team on the bench during a time out during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Recently-Fired Head Coach Named Frontrunner for New York Knicks Job

Originally posted on Memphis Grizzlies on SI
By Logan Struck | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 11:03 AM ET

This postseason, the New York Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000, breaking a dreadful drought for such a big-market franchise. However, the Knicks were not content with being a round short of the NBA Finals.

Shortly after getting eliminated by the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau, a shocking move after making a Conference Finals appearance. And to some surprise, the coaching search for New York is not going as planned.

The Knicks initially targeted some of the league's top head coaches for their opening, but every opposing team denied their request for New York to interview their coach.

Dallas’ Jason Kidd
Minnesota’s Chris Finch
Houston’s Ime Udoka
Atlanta’s Quin Snyder
Chicago’s Billy Donovan

The Knicks have been denied permission to speak to all of them this week for their head coaching vacancy. https://t.co/4k6Ds6EDsO
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 12, 2025

Since the Knicks kept getting denied by their top options, they turned to coaches on the open market. Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins were each fired by their respective teams this past season, but they earned interviews with the Knicks and are now labeled as "front-runners" for now, per The Athletic's James L. Edwards III.

"The process reached a new stage last week, when New York held interviews with former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins and former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown. Both candidates interviewed over multiple days and were impressive, per league sources," Edwards III wrote. "...Jenkins and Brown appear to be the front-runners as of now."

Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown are the front-runners for the Knicks head coaching vacancy, per @TheAthletic

The Knicks have also has tossed around the idea of speaking with James Borrego

(https://t.co/CSYWIq3fAN) pic.twitter.com/EYTZ2OgnVR
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 23, 2025

The Memphis Grizzlies fired Jenkins with just nine games left in the regular season, after leading them to a 44-29 record. Jenkins led the Grizzlies to consecutive 50+ win seasons in 2022 and 2023, and now eyes one of the most intimidating head coaching jobs in the NBA.

Mike Brown, who was fired by the Sacramento Kings last season, has more experience than Jenkins, but they are both talented head coaches looking to prove themselves after being unexpectedly fired this season.

This article first appeared on Memphis Grizzlies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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