Official Knicks Coaching Search Thread pt. 2 (update: poll added 6/18/25)

[MrDollarBills]

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Shams is always late man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I miss Woj!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He doesn't have a plug with the Knicks. He also used Intel from other teams to rage bait

It is what it is.

[prophet_of_rage]

Why is Malone not in the mix, do we know?

Because he's Thibs. The best player in the world wanted him fired..

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

[HerSports85]

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[HabenKG]

Not sure why folks dont like Jenkins. Feels like he's underrated and could be a hidden gem. He had to deal with alot with Morrant, Brooks and excessive injuries. Did damn good with what he had to work with.

[KnixinSix]

https://nbaanalysis.net/jalen-brunson-has-already-made-his-feelings-on-mike-brown-clear-as-new-york-knicks-coaching-search-ramps-up/

[Im Coming Home]

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No HS don't you know, whoever the Knicks choose now was actually their 7th choice so embarrassing!

Surely they weren't just seeing who was available even current HCs that maybe teams would be open to trading if the right deal came, surely no one would be upset if we hired the first unemploymed coach we wanted then found out someone like Udoka was available to us..

The media is so annoying with the LolKnicks narrative, they really tried to make something out of nothing because they haven't been able to make fun of the Knicks the last few years..

[KnixinSix]

Watch on YouTube

Agree or disagree

[GettinitDone]

Read on Twitter

I think a lot of people don't get: the plan was: FIRE THIBS

To me that's a heck of a plan!

Someone whose team repeatedly left 3 point shooters and the paint wide open... problems never addressed for months and years, there's no way his team can win a championship that way.

To me, he didn't "LEAD" the team to the ECF, it's THE TEAM (aka PLAYERS) that CARRIED him to the ECF. We won in spite of him, not because. Fifty one wins is a joke with a star studded roster like this.

Anyone would be an improvement. Bryant or Jenkins would be amazing. Any new coach would EASILY improve on the 51 wins.

This is the plan.

[Ravenxvirall]

explain

Coached 4 teams (Cleveland twice) in 11 seasons.

His offense sets are ass.

His defensive coaching is worse than Thibs.

He's a soft presence.

He hasn't had any sustained playoff success since 2007.

devil's advocate:

His 1st go around in CLE was just Lebron, and no supporting talent, they weren't championship caliber teams. and he still made playoff runs each year, never 1 and done in CLE

Lakers situation wasn't ideal. Still had decent success his first year, made it to Conf. semi's which was where they had finished previous year under Phil Jackson, and it was the lockout year too, which must've been especially difficult for a HC with a new team. fired because clash of personalities which is unfortunately all too common in the NBA (rather than performance based)

his 2nd go around in CLE, what was expected? took over a terrible team that used the #1 pick on Anthony Bennett. and given that Lebron was about to return they wanted a different HC, rather than someone he already played for. Could he have had success in CLE again? Probably, they loaded up that roster once Lebron returned w/ way more talent than he had his 1st time. but he was the victim of circumstances

He then went to the GS bench for 6 seasons and learned offense in a new light and developed immensely as a coach. after arriving as a defensive-minded HC in the NBA, he evolved.

In terms of defensive rating, he improved from year 1 in SAC to year 2: 24th to 14th which isn't bad considering the personnel he had, he didn't have a guy like OG

As long as Brunson and KAT are paired, we'll likely never be an elite defensive team, but if we can be good enough + maximize their offensive talent (which Mike Brown has done with Fox/Sabonis pairing), it can offset the lack of elite defense at 2 spots

also Mike Brown has a .556 winning % in the playoffs, only getting bounced in the 1st once

Damn getting that kings roster to 14th in defense is actually pretty impressive.

[3toheadmelo]

it’s gonna be mike brown isn’t it

[Knicksfan1992]

I'll say it I'm good with either Mike Brown or Taylor Jenkins.

I'd actually probably prefer Brown tbh. Dude coached a hell of an offense around Fox and Sabonis and given what we know about the Kings franchise to coach a winner there is basically impossible lol.

When he got fired the Kings were still a top 10 offense and average defense. Both of those numbers dropped by end of season.

I think X's and O's wise he's getting a raw deal on this board because he has the stink of a retread but he might be the best one out of the truly available coaches.

Jenkins is good too but it seems like he let himself get overrun by management and his assistants in Memphis. I don't like how things ended there and that he has no major market experience.

Mike Brown coached in LA, he coached LeBron during his early peak amongst heavy national attention and was Kerrs right hand man during the dynasty.

Coaching an undermanned Kings team to 48 wins and a play in win over the Warriors and Curry shouldn't be looked at as a negative IMO.

[stuporman]

If they pick Bryant it kind of feels like he was always supposed to be the next coach of the Knicks when he came to them to be an associate head coach and Thibs just squeezed another year out of the run that most knew had a certain shelf life to it...good on him for getting an extra $30mil out of Dolan because he deserved it for the amazing job he did bringing respectability back to the franchise and beating the champion Celtics in the playoffs this year to kind of send them into an oblivion of their own.

If the Knicks hire Jenkins it has a little bit of upside potential to it considering how he seemed to overachieve in a tougher western conference under some challenging circumstances. Injuries, Ja antics, relying on lots of young unproven players yet he had them winning games playoff bound year after year and multiple 50 win seasons. There's a bit of the unknown possibilities, some unexpected excitement to it going in regardless of how it turns out. Can he be the guy who get the Knicks over the hump? That would remain to be seen for sure.

Although, if the Knicks hire Brown it does feel like they are settling, it doesn't matter what Brunson says about him, it just doesn't feel like a special hire. Bryant does, even Jenkins does but Brown doesn't seem like he'll excite anyone. I'm sure he's a nice man, respected in many ways and competent yet is a bland choice that doesn't inspire much hope. Which absolutely convinces me he will wind up being the choice because us Knicks fans can't have nice things and we are destined to be miserably blue balled by the Brunson years under a guy like Brown.

[El Poochio]

Just hire Bryant, other guys like Mike Brown and Jenkins are a downgrade from Thibs

The gamble is worth it. Hire a veteran assistant coach so in the event that he flames out, we have continuation

I don't think Johnnie Bryant will flame out. I'll put $100 on it.

The dude is smart. Understands emotional intelligence. Knows how to communicate. Is a student of the game, has a philosophy that will unlock this team.

To me even if he has %1 chance to succeed thats better than the %0 of Jenkins, Mike Brown. Thibs was %0 too we werent winning a title with him

[Besart19]

Not sure why folks dont like Jenkins. Feels like he's underrated and could be a hidden gem. He had to deal with alot with Morrant, Brooks and excessive injuries. Did damn good with what he had to work with.

fans in here would hate him for being a MAGA guy though

[NoStatsGuy]

i dont know.. i was sold on the idea to hire a genius. now we settle for worse coaches than thibs was.

maybe i just have too much time to think today but each passing day i get more worried. i was convinced we had a plan. leon always had a plan. but we clearly dont this time around.

i think its fair to say we coulda been 2-2 in the finals right now. if it wasnt for the players dishing out an all time choke job it would have been us!

[KnixinSix]

i dont know.. i was sold on the idea to hire a genius. now we settle for worse coaches than thibs was.

maybe i just have too much time to think today but each passing day i get more worried. i was convinced we had a plan. leon always had a plan. but we clearly dont this time around.

i think its fair to say we coulda been 2-2 in the finals right now. if it wasnt for the players dishing out an all time choke job it would have been us!

Have our Mariano Rivera defensive closer out there in the final 5-6 minutes up 15 of game 1 instead of one of Brunson or KAT and its a total different story.

You don't put one of your most defensively deficient lineups on the floor just because they are your best offensive guys when you are up 15 late in the 4th quarter vs an offensively explosive team.

That is a fatal coaching flaw.

[KnixinSix]

If they pick Bryant it kind of feels like he was always supposed to be the next coach of the Knicks when he came to them to be an associate head coach and Thibs just squeezed another year out of the run that most knew had a certain shelf life to it...good on him for getting an extra $30mil out of Dolan because he deserved it for the amazing job he did bringing respectability back to the franchise and beating the champion Celtics in the playoffs this year to kind of send them into an oblivion of their own.

If the Knicks hire Jenkins it has a little bit of upside potential to it considering how he seemed to overachieve in a tougher western conference under some challenging circumstances. Injuries, Ja antics, relying on lots of young unproven players yet he had them winning games playoff bound year after year and multiple 50 win seasons. There's a bit of the unknown possibilities, some unexpected excitement to it going in regardless of how it turns out. Can he be the guy who get the Knicks over the hump? That would remain to be seen for sure.

Although, if the Knicks hire Brown it does feel like they are settling, it doesn't matter what Brunson says about him, it just doesn't feel like a special hire. Bryant does, even Jenkins does but Brown doesn't seem like he'll excite anyone. I'm sure he's a nice man, respected in many ways and competent yet is a bland choice that doesn't inspire much hope. Which absolutely convinces me he will wind up being the choice because us Knicks fans can't have nice things and we are destined to be miserably blue balled by the Brunson years under a guy like Brown.

It might be....but is he going to be better than Thibs? Probably.

[NoStatsGuy]

i dont know.. i was sold on the idea to hire a genius. now we settle for worse coaches than thibs was.

maybe i just have too much time to think today but each passing day i get more worried. i was convinced we had a plan. leon always had a plan. but we clearly dont this time around.

i think its fair to say we coulda been 2-2 in the finals right now. if it wasnt for the players dishing out an all time choke job it would have been us!

Have our Mariano Rivera defensive closer out there in the final 5-6 minutes up 15 of game 1 instead of one of Brunson or KAT and its a total different story.

You don't put one of your most defensively deficient lineups on the floor just because they are your best offensive guys when you are up 15 late in the 4th quarter vs an offensively explosive team.

That is a fatal coaching flaw.

yea, valid points. But Mitch was effectively being hacked before. he is and always will be a liability late in games with his FT Shooting. And thibs did bring in defenders and subbed out brunson and kat whenever he had the chance, especially later in the game for defensive posessions.
imo there is no excuse for the players to lose that game, even if i had coached them.

thibs did not coach a perfect game, thats not what im trying to say. just to be clear

[KnixinSix]

it’s gonna be mike brown isn’t it

The realization of the emptiness of this world

[KnixinSix]

i dont know.. i was sold on the idea to hire a genius. now we settle for worse coaches than thibs was.

maybe i just have too much time to think today but each passing day i get more worried. i was convinced we had a plan. leon always had a plan. but we clearly dont this time around.

i think its fair to say we coulda been 2-2 in the finals right now. if it wasnt for the players dishing out an all time choke job it would have been us!

Have our Mariano Rivera defensive closer out there in the final 5-6 minutes up 15 of game 1 instead of one of Brunson or KAT and its a total different story.

You don't put one of your most defensively deficient lineups on the floor just because they are your best offensive guys when you are up 15 late in the 4th quarter vs an offensively explosive team.

That is a fatal coaching flaw.

yea, valid points. But Mitch was effectively being hacked before. he is and always will be a liability late in games with his FT Shooting. And thibs did bring in defenders and subbed out brunson and kat whenever he had the chance, especially later in the game for defensive posessions.
imo there is no excuse for the players to lose that game, even if i had coached them.

thibs did not coach a perfect game, thats not what im trying to say. just to be clear

Not in the last 5 minutes of that game he didnt. Wright could have been in instead of Brunson. Achiuwa could have been in instead of KAT. He pretty much rode his starting lineup which was getting LIT ALL GAME to close it out.

I screamed it out right when he brought in both KAT/Brunson at the end. They JUST built a big lead with their better defensive lineup out there. I was freaking out , WHY WHY WHY?!!!!