Why Mike Brown is the right fit for HC based on Knicks' circumstances

The waiting is over. The New York Knicks have found their next head coach. And while some are down on the Mike Brown hire because it lacks the spark fitting of New York, it's important to recognize Brown is more than qualified for the job. 

Firing Tom Thibodeau on the heels of the franchise's best season in 25 years was a risk. It's a risk that warranted the criticism it received. However, based on the landscape of the league, the viable coaching options remaining and Brown's career resume, he actually argues as the perfect hire. 

After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, anything shy of an NBA Finals appearance will be deemed a failure. That's an immense amount of pressure to place on a coach. But with that being the case, Brown has dealt with immense pressure before. He's used to pressure and won't buckle because of it. 

Brown started off his coaching career with a microscope simply because he was coaching a young generational star in LeBron James. Under that pressure, Brown coached the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in only his second year, the first trip for Cleveland and James. They got swept in the Finals, but lost to a far superior Spurs roster. 

The Cavaliers reached the postseason in every season during Brown's first tenure, including a second Conference Finals in 2008-09. He then took over the Lakers towards the end of Kobe Bryant's career. That's obvious pressure, granted, he only lasted two years in Los Angeles. 

Following his brief stint with the Lakers, Brown tried a return to Cleveland before landing a role on Steve Kerr's staff in Golden State in 2016. With the Warriors, Brown earned three more championship rings as an assistant - he won his first under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio in 2003 before landing the Cavaliers job. 

Brown pivoted the Warriors' dynastic success to an opportunity to be a head coach again with Sacramento. He then got the Kings back in the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since 2006. 

So all in all, Brown has won throughout his career, and managed to handle and overcome pressure before. Brown has 454 career wins and is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, with the most recent honor coming in 2023. 

Based on Jason Kidd and other desirable coaches made unavailable by their existing teams, the Knicks turning to Brown makes tons of sense. 

And in looking around the league, especially in the East, the Knicks will likely have as good of a shot as anyone based on the health and continuity of their returning stars and the other recent contenders like Boston and Indiana forced to take a step back.  

Brown may not win the headlines, but he may very well win games for a franchise that believes it's on the cusp of its first title since 1973.