The New York Knicks’ search for a new head coach is moving forward, with sources indicating the team is set to conduct formal interviews next week with former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown and former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. These meetings mark a significant step in the Knicks’ efforts to find a successor to Tom Thibodeau.
Thibodeau’s dismissal on June 3rd came as a surprise to many across the NBA, occurring just three days after he led the Knicks to their deepest playoff run in 25 years, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite revitalizing the franchise over five seasons, guiding them to four playoff appearances and back-to-back 50-win seasons – feats not seen since the 1990s – the team president Leon Rose stated the move was “best for our organization moving forward.” Thibodeau, who won his second NBA Coach of the Year award in 2020-21, responded gracefully to his firing, even taking out a full-page ad in The New York Times to express gratitude to the city, fans, players, and staff. The Knicks still owe Thibodeau a substantial amount from his 2024 contract extension.
Initial Hurdles in the Search
The path to Brown and Jenkins follows reported challenges in the initial phase of the search. The Knicks were notably denied permission by multiple NBA teams to interview their currently employed head coaches. These included requests to speak with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets, Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks, and Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls. Reports indicated particularly strong denials, with the Mavericks reportedly sending a firm “Don’t even call back” message regarding Kidd, who has two years left on his contract.
Despite facing social media mockery for these unsuccessful attempts, league sources suggest the Knicks viewed this phase as necessary to gauge potential availability among currently successful coaches. Furthermore, being the only team with a coaching vacancy reportedly allows the organization to feel no pressure to rush the decision and conveys a belief in strong potential candidates available outside of current head coaching roles. Separately, former Villanova coach Jay Wright and UConn’s Dan Hurley reportedly informed the team they were not interested in the position.
Meeting the Leading Available Candidates
With interviews with employed coaches off the table for now, the Knicks have turned their focus to prominent coaches recently available on the market. Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins appear to be the first formal interviews scheduled, positioning them as leading candidates for the role.
Taylor Jenkins Profile:
Age: 40
Previous Role: Head Coach, Memphis Grizzlies (2019-2020 to March 2025)
Record: 250-214 in six seasons
Playoff Appearances: Three
Playoff Series Wins: One
Firing Context: Fired with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 season, a move that surprised some fans given his previous success, including leading the Grizzlies to a #2 seed by the All-Star break in the recent season before a late decline.
Mike Brown Profile:
Age: 55
Previous Role: Head Coach, Sacramento Kings (2022-2023 to December 2024)
Career Record: 454-304 in 11 seasons (Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings)
Accomplishments: Unanimous NBA Coach of the Year in 2022-23 (Sacramento), helped end Kings’ 16-year playoff drought, led Kings to back-to-back 45-win seasons for the first time since 2004-06, previously won COY with Cleveland (2008-09) and reached the NBA Finals (2007).
- Firing Context: Fired less than halfway into his third season with the Kings despite his recent turnaround success. He previously interviewed for the Knicks job in 2020.
- www.nytimes.com
- sports.yahoo.com
- nypost.com
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- www.si.com
What’s Next?
While Jenkins and Brown are scheduled for the initial formal interviews, the search may potentially broaden to include assistant coaches from other organizations soon. Other experienced coaches who have been linked to the vacancy include former champions like Mike Malone (recently fired by Denver) and Mike Budenholzer, as well as former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy (currently an assistant), and assistants like Johnnie Bryant (Cavaliers) and Luke Walton (Pistons).
The timeline for a decision remains fluid, though reports suggest a choice could potentially be made within the next two weeks. The stakes are high, as the Knicks look to build upon the foundation laid by Thibodeau and find the right coach to lead the franchise in its pursuit of its first NBA championship since 1973. The interviews with Brown and Jenkins mark the next crucial step in defining that trajectory.
