Report: Knicks Focused On Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins In Coaching Search

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the New York Knicks are focused on Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins in their coaching search. 

Brown most recently coached the Sacramento Kings, while Jenkins most recently coached the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Brown and Jenkins were fired by the Kings and Grizzlies, respectively, this season. 

“Yet with the Knicks seemingly shooting air balls left and right in pursuit of employed head coaches, league sources say there is an increased Knicks focus on two former coaches who don’t require permission to pursue: Mike Brown (last with the Sacramento Kings) and Taylor Jenkins (formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies),” Amick wrote. “There could certainly be more names of (available) head coaches emerging soon, as a league source said the Knicks are planning on finalizing that list in the coming days. But Brown, in particular, profiles as an interesting option given the complicated nature of the Knicks’ inner circle.”

The Knicks need a new head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau. They have been denied permission to speak with Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan. 

New York fired Thibodeau despite reaching the conference finals this year for the first time since 2000. The Indiana Pacers beat the Knicks in six games. 

Thibodeau, who has coached the Bulls and Timberwolves, was hired by the Knicks in 2020. He went 226-174 in the regular season and 24-23 in the postseason and won the 2021 Coach of the Year Award.