The 2025-26 NBA season marks the beginning of a new era for the New York Knicks.
It was during the time when they were headed by manager Mike Brown, who was hired to replace Tom Thibodeau.
Coach Brown has already implemented plans to unlock the potential of the New York Knicks player. Despite this, Brown’s employment has received mixed reviews.
Some doubt Brown’s tactical genius, while others were impressed by his introduction press conference with the Knicks.
Last season, the Knicks reached the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, but ended up losing to the Indiana Pacers in a 4-2 series.
NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes reaching the ECF in the 2026 playoffs is Coach Brown’s minimum goal.
“He’s better off doing a better job than Tom Thibodeau, and he’d better get that team back to the conference finals, where he was last year.
“They said they basically said we were thinking about the championship, so they fired Tom Thibodeau,” Perkins told the Lord Trippin podcast.
The former NBA player added: “Do you think Mike Brown is an upgrade to Tom Thibodeau? I don’t. Do you think Mike Brown is Helva’s coach?
It feels like Coach Brown is fighting a difficult battle to get praise from Perkins. Big Perk may not consider Brown a upgrade beyond Thibs, but he cannot deny his previous championship experience.
After all, Brown won four NBA championships in his coaching career before joining the Knicks.
In addition to his hiring statements for coach Brown, Perkins noted that the Eastern Conference is open to the widespread opening next season.
“Mike Brown came in and they upgraded the bench to a minimal meeting final, and the East is wide open,” Perkins continued.
But is there a team that could potentially thorn in the Knicks’ path to potentially lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy? yes.
“There’s no need to worry about the Pacers. The Cleveland Cavaliers, that’s the only team we can say is top-to-bottom, is better than the New York Knicks,” he concluded.
Given the Cavaliers were the number one seed at last season’s conference, it’s no surprise that Perkins sees them as a potential threat to the Knicks’ championship hopes.