New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mike Brown is bringing a throwback style of play to Knicks

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Oct 3, 2025 4:35 PM ET

It's the dawn of a new era for the New York Knicks. Mike Brown is implementing his own thoughts and ideas on both sides of the floor. However, it's on the offensive end where the changes are most likely to be felt.

In a recent episode of "The Hoop Collective" podcast, ESPN's Brian Windhorst discussed the change in style Brown is implementing during practice. Windhorst also noted how the Knicks have shown shades of the 2010 San Antonio Spurs in the way they're looking to play.

“Really, I’m kind of watching a Spurs 2010 style offense from the Knicks," Windhorst said. "Where the old Gregg Popovich 0.5 rule, which is you get the ball and you have half a second to decide to pass or shoot. That’s what the Knicks are doing in practice.”

Under Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks played a slower, more methodical brand of basketball. Isolation offense was a core part of the strategy, along with a high dose of spread pick-and-roll.

It would appear that Brown is looking to lean into New York's abundance of offensive skill and create a free-flowing system that stops defenses from predicting what's coming on each trip down the floor.

Jalen Brunson will need to adapt to the Knicks' new style

In a Sept. 25 article for ESPN, Tim Bontemps pinpointed Brunson as the Knicks player who faces the biggest adaptation process. Under Thibodeau, New York's offense ran through Brunson, who ranked eighth in the NBA for touches per game last season (85.4).

"Brunson is a tremendous player, of course, and will remain a focal point of the Knicks' offense," Bontemps wrote. "However, Brown has talked about both playing much faster and incorporating more ball movement into his offense in New York, much like he did with Sacramento the past few seasons. Brunson, on the other hand, has seemed to prefer playing at a slower pace, and the ball has constantly been in his hands under Thibodeau."

Brunson has the skill set to be an off-ball threat. He's also a talented enough passer to thrive in a ball-movement-heavy offense. However, he's gone from strength to strength under Thibodeau, and will undoubtedly be cautious about overhauling an approach that clearly brings the best out of him.

Nevertheless, the Knicks are heading into the new season with the goal of winning a championship. If Brown's new style of play can get them closer to achieving that goal, it's unlikely anyone on the roster will push back against the changes being made.

The Knicks could be incredibly fun to watch this season, assuming they figure everything out.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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