The New York Knicks are in talks with two coaches looking for a Tom Thibodeau alternative.
Since the decision to fire Tom Thibodeau, the process of finding an alternative to the New York Knicks has come for criticism.
Kendrick Perkins named it “disaster” after being denied permission to speak to five coaches.
Now they line up interviews with two available coaches Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins who lost their jobs in the 2024-25 season.
Taylor Jenkins was the former head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies, but spent the season as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jenkins earned his first MVP to Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Knicks decided to play for the Bucks star.
Another connection is Don Teddy Vincenzo, who played for the Bucks in that 2018-19 season before a shock trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024 and before becoming a mainstay for the New York Knicks.
Talking to Ringer earlier, Divincenzo laid out admiration for Taylor Jenkins and praised the way he connects with players.
He explained:
“He could see if something was off or not. He could see my attitude one day in a certain way. He came and came to pick me up.”
Divincenzo also praised Jenkins’ bystander charisma.
“The best thing about Coach Taylor is when something happens on the court. You can watch the video. He holds down the bench. But that was the energy he did.”
The initial report on Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins, set for interviews with the Knicks, was described by ESPN as “the first stage of the formal interview.”
Jenkins and Brown have early benefits, but we expect other names to be added to the mix.
Former player Kevin Garnett warned that the Knicks would have a deadline to introduce coaches before the NBA draft.
That would certainly help – but we still can’t see if they actually move very quickly or not.