Last season, the New York Knicks made a surprising move after failing to reach the NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau after five seasons. It had just been the Knicks’ deepest playoff run in 25 years.
The Knicks then announced they would hire Mike Brown, who was fired by the Sacramento Kings last December.
Brown is under a lot of pressure this season as he is expected to produce results with the Knicks.
Brown has an impressive record of 454 wins, 304 losses (.599 winning percentage) as a head coach, and four NBA championships as an assistant coach.
Brown is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year (2023, 2024) and most recently led the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 16 years.
So if there’s one guy who can help the Knicks end their NBA Finals and NBA Championship drought, it’s him.
But despite his impressive resume, former NBA player Matt Barnes has his doubts about Mike Brown and doesn’t think he’s the answer for the Knicks.
“People are mad at me because I said, ‘I don’t know if the Mike Brown experience is going to work.'” I might have been drinking and used words I shouldn’t have.
“I still think Mike is a great coach, but you and I see it differently because he was so instrumental in (Stephen Jackson’s) career and moving it forward. He negatively affected my career and tried to betray me. That’s another story.”
“Overall, I would say Mike Brown is a great guy. Great personality. But I think what hurts him in this game is that sometimes he’s too nice and he tries to be calm with everyone. So when he tries to turn on his meanness, people can’t believe it.”
“So I think what I saw over the years when we had him in Los Angeles and then a pit stop in Golden State, he absorbed a lot of games and got better as a coach.
“But when he came back to Sacramento, his first year was solid because he’s a breath of fresh air, he’s got some new concepts and he’s got a very smart basketball mind. But after that, I think the players started to look at him a little bit differently.”
“I hope I’m wrong. I’m okay with being wrong, and I’m going to be the first to come out here and tell you that I was wrong. But as far as long-term plays go, I don’t know if Mike Brown is the answer.”
Brown has been successful in every aspect of his NBA career.
It was seen as a big surprise when he was fired by the Kings, as he was the coach who put them back in position.
In the New York market, Brown will likely be under more pressure than he has ever experienced.
But if he coaches to his strengths and gives free rein to stars like Jalen Brunson, he should lead the Knicks to the playoffs in May.