LIVE UPDATES
-rccDuxbCW8.jpg "Coach Mike Brown")
The former head coach of the Nigerian men's national basketball team, D'Tigers,Mike Brown,has shared his enthusiasm after being appointed as the head coach of the NBA Eastern Conference team, the New York Knicks.
The 55-year-old American, who previously managed the Sacramento Kings, has now been officially named the 32nd head coach in Knicks history, signing a four-year contract reportedly valued at around $40 million.
He was selected after the Knicks undertook an extensive search process, interviewing several notable candidates such as Taylor Jenkins, Micah Nori, James Borrego, and even engaging in discussions with women’s NCAA icon Dawn Staley.
During his introductory press conference at the team's practice facility in Tarrytown, Brown expressed, “Nobody has greater expectations than I do. My expectations are high.
This is the Knicks. Madison Square Garden is iconic, and I am excited about it.”
He further mentioned, “Our aim is to establish a sustainable winning culture that generates championships. That’s why I’m here. I've had productive discussions with all of our players, and I'm eager to cultivate strong, positive relationships with them over time.
Leon and I have just begun discussions on various ways to build a coaching staff, and that’s going to be an ongoing process. Who knows how long it will take?” Brown is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, having won with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009 and the Sacramento Kings in 2023.
As an assistant, he secured four NBA championships: one with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 and three with the Golden State Warriors in 2017, 2018, and 2022. With his hiring, the Knicks aspire not just to compete, but to contend for a spot in the NBA Finals and break a 52-year championship drought.
The franchise parted ways with former coach Tom Thibodeau after being ousted from the 2025 NBA playoffs in a 4-2 series loss against the Indiana Pacers, who eventually reached the finals.
