In a surprising development, Towns confessed to the media that he is unsure about his offensive role under Brown‘s leadership with the Knicks. “Honestly, I don’t know – but we’re figuring it out,” Towns admitted to reporters, as the team prepares for the season opener this week.

It’s not uncommon to face challenges when a new head coach joins the team, particularly for players deeply embedded in the organization. For Towns, this transition may present some hurdles in adapting to the offensive strategies, but it also offers an opportunity to grasp the coach’s directives on the court more effectively.

Regardless of the situation, what is certain is that Towns could emerge as a pivotal figure in Brown’s game plan. His strength and skillset have the potential to script a remarkable narrative for the Knicks this season, as they aim to advance further following their near miss at the NBA Finals, previously thwarted by the Indiana Pacers.

Towns offers insightful perspective on Knicks’ title hopes this season

As one of the teams that caught fans off guard with their strong regular-season performance, but didn’t quite exceed expectations, Towns has expressed that this season feels different. He acknowledges uncertainty regarding whether the team is poised to rank among the top five contenders for the NBA title this season.

“I’m not focused on that. It’s all speculation, like looking into a crystal ball and hoping it predicts success. We have to earn our way there,” Towns stated to the media ahead of their season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Towns impressed by teammate’s unexpected performance

With fans eagerly anticipating the dynamics among veteran players, newcomers, and head coach Brown, Towns shared his surprise regarding Rudy Gobert’s performance.

“I had certain expectations for Mitch…but his capabilities exceeded them,” Towns commented to the press. As the Knicks prepare for the new season, they aim to prove that last season’s playoff appearance was no fluke, showcasing their determination to solidify their standing in the league.

During a recent episode of The Roommates Show with teammate Jalen Brunson, Hart recalled his first interaction with the Knicks’ new coach. “I was with the family and everybody, and we’re all at dinner, and I see a phone call,” he began.

“You know that Apple now has like a little ID joint. So I get the number calling. I’m like, ‘Who the hell is Michael Brown? I don’t know no Michael Brown, bro. I ain’t picking this up,’” Hart said, revealing he had momentarily forgotten the full name of his new boss.

The confusion is understandable—“Michael Brown” is a fairly common name, and the coach is typically referred to as “Mike.” Fortunately for Hart, someone else helped him realize his mistake.

“Then Matt just sitting there like, ‘Is that your new coach?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, hell. Uh, hello. Hey, what’s up? Hey, how you doing?’” the 30-year-old guard said. “I was about to let that one go to voicemail, but yeah. We connected.”

Hart’s expectations for the upcoming season

In the same conversation, Hart shared his early thoughts after speaking with Mike Brown. “I don’t really got a relationship with him. Obviously, he’s been a part of some great organizations and great teams, he’s extremely competitive, someone who I think will work well with the personality and the personnel that we have. So, it’s gonna be great,” said the guard.

Josh also highlighted the Knicks’ strengths. “Obviously, great depth, a lot of versatility, able to play big, small, fast, able to slow down the pace. So, it’s gonna be fun,” he said. However, he acknowledged that building the new group will take time: “I don’t think it’s gonna be something that’s built in one day because you’re going to have to mesh a new coaching style and a new play style, new teammates. But extremely excited.”

Hart recovering from offseason surgery

Josh Hart also made headlines this week after undergoing surgery to address an injury to his right ring finger sustained during the playoffs. His estimated recovery time is about six weeks, and he’s expected to be fully ready to rejoin the team when training camp opens ahead of the 2025–26 season.

“The New York Knicks are expected to land on two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown as the franchise’s next head coach, sources tell ESPN,” reported Shams Charania on X (formerly Twitter), signaling that the former Kings coach is set to take over at Madison Square Garden.

According to Charania, the Knicks also interviewed former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego, and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori. However, it appears that Brown has emerged as the franchise’s top choice to take over in New York.

Brown is coming off a strong stint with the Sacramento Kings, where he led the team to a 48–34 record in the 2022–23 season as his inaugural season, and guided the franchise to its first NBA Playoff appearance since 2006.

That turnaround earned him NBA Coach of the Year honors that same season, for the second time in his career—making him the first coach in league history to win the award by unanimous vote. However, after a disappointing start to the 2024–25 season, the Kings decided to part ways with Brown following a 13–18 record.

Brown’s tenure with Popovich and Kerr

Popovich hired Brown as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs in 2000, where he also served as head coach of the team’s Summer League squad. By 2003, the Spurs went on to win the NBA championship after defeating the New Jersey Nets in six games—a roster that included Steve Kerr as a player.

After head coaching stints with the Cavaliers—where he coached LeBron James—and the Lakers, Brown was hired by Steve Kerr in 2016 to join the Warriors as an associate coach. During his time in the Bay Area, he was part of three of the four championships won by the Golden State dynasty.

According to Shams Charania, the New York Knicks and Mike Brown plan to meet for a second time with him for the head coach position. This move would mark Brown’s return to a leadership role after his tenure with the Sacramento Kings. However, neither party has officially confirmed his appointment yet.

Although Mike Brown has not yet secured an NBA championship as a head coach, he has crafted legendary projects like the 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers. That season, he guided the team to a stellar 66-16 record, earning him his first Coach of the Year award. Despite his dismissal from the Cavaliers, he successfully led the franchise to five consecutive postseason appearances.

His last stint with the Sacramento Kings showcased his remarkable ability to transform teams. In his debut season, he set a franchise record with a 48-34 performance, steering the Kings to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. This significant impact earned him his second NBA Coach of the Year award, marking the first unanimous selection for the award in history.

Who else are the Knicks reportedly considering for their head coach opening?

The New York Knicks’ search for a new head coach excites fans, with Mike Brown as a top candidate. However, the team also explores other options. According to James L. Edwards of The Athletic, Taylor Jenkins and James Borrego remain strong contenders. Both lack extensive head coaching experience, but the Knicks still consider them viable options.

Furthermore, the team monitors Jason Kidd’s status with the Dallas Mavericks. Though the Mavericks want to keep Kidd, his coaching staff might change. Sean Sweeney, Jared Dudley, and God Shammgod could leave, potentially influencing Kidd’s future. This situation keeps the Knicks interested in him, as reported by The Athletic. By exploring these possibilities, they aim to find the best leader for the upcoming season.

“There was never any pushback about anything,” Fox wrote. “This narrative of us butting heads or me going to management saying anything is bulls**t. So you can run with that if you want to.”

Fox’s comments sought to dispel accusations that he played a role in the firing of Brown, who won the 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 16 years. Despite the accolades, the Kings missed the postseason last year, and with a 13-19 record this season, they currently sit 12th in the Western Conference, vying for a play-in spot. Brown’s departure, less than halfway through the season, has left many questioning the stability of the organization.

A blow to team morale

Brown’s dismissal has broader implications beyond the coaching staff. Losing a leader who helped elevate the franchise’s performance is a significant blow to the locker room. Players like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, who thrived under Brown’s offensive system, may find themselves navigating an uncertain environment as the team adjusts to this sudden change.

The perception of internal discord and a lack of organizational stability could also affect the players’ confidence in the franchise’s long-term vision. Historically, such instability has hindered teams in rebuilding phases, and the Kings risk falling into old patterns if they fail to address these issues effectively.

Doug Christie: steady hand or temporary fix?

With Doug Christie stepping in as interim head coach, the Kings aim to stabilize the team while deciding on a long-term plan. Christie, a former Kings player and current assistant coach, brings familiarity with the organization’s culture and players, which could help ease the transition. However, his task is daunting.

Key challenges Christie faces include:

Rebuilding Trust: Convincing the roster that the team remains competitive and focused on its play-in aspirations despite the coaching shakeup.

Maintaining Offensive Flow: The Kings boast the league’s 10th-highest-scoring offense, a strength that Christie must preserve while adapting the system to his style.

Defensive Improvements: Sacramento’s inability to close out games on the defensive end has been a glaring issue, and addressing it will be critical for Christie to earn the players’ confidence.

While Christie’s interim status may provide a sense of continuity, the Kings’ trajectory this season hinges on how effectively he can manage these challenges. Whether his leadership can stabilize the team or add to the uncertainty remains to be seen.

The controversy surrounding Brown’s dismissal stems from his remarkable achievements with the Kings, including ending the franchise’s 17-year playoff drought and being named NBA Coach of the Year in the same season.

Ahead of the Warriors’ matchup against the Clippers, Kerr shared his thoughts on the situation, offering a pointed critique of the Kings’ lack of patience. “We all kind of know this is the nature of this business,” Kerr said.

“I just know that I feel very fortunate to work in an organization that really values continuity and that allows our team and our staff and our group to get through the rough patches,” Kerr added. “Because every team in the league is going to face these rough stretches like we’re going through right now.”

Kerr ‘shocked’ by Kings’ decision

Kerr didn’t hold back when describing his surprise at the firing. He praised the work Brown had done to elevate the Kings’ franchise in recent years. “When you think about where that franchise was before Mike got there and where they’ve been the last couple years, the job he and his staff have done — it’s just really shocking,” Kerr said. “I know they’ve been in a tough spell, but this is the NBA. We all go through tough spells.”

Doug Christie steps in as interim coach

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Doug Christie is expected to serve as the Kings’ interim head coach. Christie, a familiar face within the organization, has been an assistant coach with the team since the 2021-22 season and spent five seasons as a player for Sacramento during his NBA career.

“Just In: The Sacramento Kings are parting ways with head coach Mike Brown,” Shams wrote on X. “Kings fire Mike Brown in the midst of a five-game losing streak, 12 of last 17, and have lost an NBA-high 13 clutch time games this season. Brown won Coach of the Year in 2022-23 when he led the Kings to the postseason, snapping a U.S. sports-record 17-year playoff drought. Mike Brown signed a three-year extension through 2027 with the Kings in June. Let go just over six months later, amid a 13-18, 12th place start to a season with playoff expectations.”

Brown, who was at the helm during some of the Kings’ most promising seasons in recent history, played a critical role in their resurgence. In the 2022-23 campaign, considered the franchise’s best in decades, his leadership helped Sacramento secure the third-best record in the Western Conference at 48-24. That season, the Kings made the playoffs for the first time in 17 years, a monumental achievement that revitalized the fan base and earned Brown the NBA’s Coach of the Year award. Despite their success, the Kings were eliminated in seven games during a hard-fought first-round series against the Golden State Warriors.

However, the Kings have struggled to maintain that momentum. Last season, despite finishing just two games shy of their stellar record the year before, they dropped to ninth place in the standings and failed to advance past the play-in tournament. This inconsistency, coupled with their sluggish start to the current season, likely prompted the front office to make a change.

With limited trade options available, the Kings appear to have chosen what they believe to be the quickest solution: a new head coach. The decision, though, comes with urgency as Sacramento faces a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.

Was Mike Brown really the problem?

The decision to part ways with Mike Brown has sparked debate across the NBA landscape. On paper, Sacramento’s struggles this season, including a 13-18 record and a league-leading 13 losses in clutch situations, might justify the move. However, Brown’s past accomplishments raise questions about whether he was truly at fault.

In the 2022-23 season, Brown led the Kings to their most successful campaign in nearly two decades. His game plan transformed the franchise, delivering a dynamic, efficient style of basketball that brought the team back into playoff contention and ended a 17-year postseason drought—the longest in U.S. sports history. The turnaround earned Brown widespread acclaim and the Coach of the Year honor.

Yet, the Kings’ success under Brown proved fleeting. Despite a solid record last season, their slide to ninth place and subsequent elimination in the play-in tournament exposed cracks in the team’s foundation. This season’s erratic performances and inability to close out tight games appear to have eroded the organization’s confidence in Brown.

Still, it’s worth asking whether the blame rests solely on the coach. Sacramento’s struggles extend beyond the bench, with issues such as a limited roster, key injuries, and poor execution in critical moments. Their league-worst record in clutch situations this season highlights broader challenges that a coaching change alone may not resolve.

Rich Paul’s visit reportedly centered on Kings’ star player De’Aaron Fox. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Fox’s wife, Recee, had planned a meeting with Sacramento’s general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox. The meeting was intended to discuss Fox’s future with the franchise, where he has spent the past eight years.

Fox addressed his contract situation with The Athletic, revealing that he had turned down a three-year, $165 million extension offer, citing misalignment with his long-term goals. “I want to make sure that we’re in a position to try to win in the future, because that’s ultimately what I want to do,” affirmed De’Aaron. He further elaborated during a conversation on The Draymond Green Show podcast, saying: “For me, it’s Are we looking like we’re continuing to get better year after year, and Are we going to be able to compete at a high level?”.

This underscores Fox’s desire for a winning project that shows consistent improvement. So far, he has not accepted Sacramento’s proposal, feeling the team has yet to demonstrate a commitment to building a championship-caliber squad. However, Amick’s sources indicate that Fox has not formally requested a trade and remains open to hearing the Kings’ vision for the future before making any decisions.

It is worth noting that De’Aaron Fox has expressed on multiple occasions his wish to spend his entire career with one team. This situation could very well be a strategic move to pressure the Kings into investing in the roster and crafting a winning project.

De’Aaron Fox is the cornerstone of Sacramento Kings’ project

The Sacramento Kings heavily rely on the offensive brilliance of De’Aaron Fox, who is averaging 26.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game this season. This year marks the best of his career, showcasing that he’s ready to achieve big things in the NBA.

However, the Kings have failed to make a significant impact during Fox’s eight-year tenure with the team. There has been little progress, and this season is no exception. Sacramento is far from playoff contention and even further from competing for the conference title, currently sitting 12th in the Western Conference standings.

While Fox has expressed his desire to remain part of the Kings’ project, the team must make significant reinforcements and present him with a winning project. Fox’s ambitions have long shifted from financial considerations to sporting success, his ultimate goal is to win titles and leave a lasting legacy in the NBA.

Brown pointed to an intriguing statistic from the 2023-24 season. Among the 25 players with the most touches, Sabonis recorded the second-shortest average touch length, trailing only Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers. This efficiency, according to Brown, sets Sabonis apart.

“I’m not saying Domas is better than Jokic or anything like that,” Brown clarified during an interview with ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “But to me, that’s why Domas is a better playmaker than Jokic.” While his opinion is undoubtedly controversial, the statistic offers some support for his perspective. However, as the Kings coach himself noted, the comparison was limited to playmaking and not an overall evaluation of the two players.

Jokic and Sabonis share some similarities in their playing styles, both excelling as versatile centers who contribute across multiple areas of the game. They are the only players this season averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, underscoring their ability to impact the game on various levels.

Yet, Jokic’s accolades—including three NBA MVP awards—highlight his dominance as a player who consistently elevates his team. Sabonis, while impressive, has yet to reach that level of individual or team success.

Jokic vs. Sabonis

Nikola Jokic’s numbers this season reaffirm his status as a frontrunner for the MVP award. Averaging 32.3 points (second in the league behind Giannis Antetokounmpo), 13.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, Jokic continues to redefine what a center can achieve. Of the top 50 scorers in the league, only Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young averages more assists per game.

In comparison, Sabonis is having a strong season but lacks Jokic’s gaudy statistics. He is currently 41st in scoring, averaging 20.8 points, along with 12.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists over 23 games. These numbers solidify him as one of the league’s most complete centers, but they fall short of Jokic’s historic pace.

While Mike Brown’s comparison highlights an interesting aspect of Sabonis’ playmaking, it’s hard to ignore the gulf in overall impact between the two players. Jokic remains in a league of his own, not only as a dominant individual talent but also as the centerpiece of a championship-winning team. Sabonis, on the other hand, continues to build his case as one of the league’s most versatile big men.

Notably, the NBA’s revolving door of coaches rarely rewards patience, and not many coaches get the benefit of staying with a team for a long time. But it’s safe to say that several of them have earned that right.

With the NBA season coming to an end, we take a look at every single one of the awards. Here, we discuss the top three candidates to win Coach of the Year, and it seems like the league couldn’t go wrong either way here.

NBA Awards: Top 3 Candidates For Coach Of The Year

3. Mark Daigenault

There’s a strong chance the Oklahoma City Thunder won’t make the NBA playoffs, but this should still be considered a very positive season for the organization. They proved to be way ahead of schedule, and Mark Daigenault deserves credit for that.

We’re talking about a team that was missing its best player from time to time. They also didn’t have Chet Holmgren suit up for them this season, and they still flirted with .500 basketball and a playoff berth for most of the year.

2. Joe Mazzulla

Just like Ime Udoka before him, Joe Mazzulla proved to be ready to be a coach right away. And while you might argue that the Boston Celtics are the most stacked team in the league, he still did a solid job.

The Celtics are actually better defensively now under Mazzulla. Continuity can go a long way, and he’s there from the previous process, but he’s also been quite good at personnel management and getting the team out of their slump.

1. Mike Brown

Mike Brown should get a statue outside of Golden 1 Center. He finally got the Sacramento Kings back to the playoffs, and it’s become more than clear that they’re not satisfied or done just yet.

Brown has helped their youngins take a step forward. He’s got trust in them and vice versa, and he’s shown that he’s willing to take a bullet for any of those guys. The Kings will be very good for a very long time, barring a disaster.