Expectations could not be larger in New York getting into the 2025-26 season, which suggestions off on Oct. 21. In Brown, the Knicks employed a coach who is aware of a factor or two about managing a championship-or-bust mentality.
Brown earned his first high-stakes job 20 years in the past in Could 2005, when the Cleveland Cavaliers employed him getting into LeBron James’ third NBA season.
Taking on for a staff that went 42-40 in 2004-05 and missed the playoffs, Brown coached the Cavs to their first 50-win season since 1992-93 in his first yr and the NBA Finals in 2006-07, when Cleveland was overmatched by the superior San Antonio Spurs.
General, Brown was 305-187 in 5 seasons as Cavaliers head coach, together with main the staff to a franchise-best 66-16 file in 2008-09.
He was fired following the 2010 season and resurfaced as Phil Jackson’s successor for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011-12. He did not have practically as a lot success in L.A. and was fired 5 video games into 12 months 2 after an offseason when the Lakers added Corridor of Famers Steve Nash and Dwight Howard.
Looking back, that staff was a sinking ship, and it is laborious to fault Brown for failing a Lakers staff within the waning days of their dynasty.
These have been his most pressurized earlier environments, however arguably his greatest problem got here at his most up-to-date cease, when he took over the Sacramento Kings, who had a 16-year postseason drought earlier than Brown’s arrival. In his first season (2022-23), the Kings went 48-34, and he was named NBA Coach of the 12 months for the second time.
Whereas by no means profitable a championship as a head coach, Brown has gotten probably the most out of his rosters at every cease. With apologies to Daniel Gibson and Anderson Varejao, he is additionally arguably by no means had a roster as proficient from prime to backside as in New York.
With a spate of Achilles accidents to stars of prime East contenders, together with Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum and former Bucks guard Damian Lillard, who was waived on Tuesday, the Knicks have a main alternative in entrance of them in 2025-26 to win the convention for the primary time since 1999.
Barring a commerce (or trades), New York will return its beginning 5 from final season — OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Cities — whereas including current free-agent acquisitions Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele.
Heart Michell Robinson, who solely appeared in 48 regular-season video games the previous two seasons whereas coping with an ankle harm, is again at full energy. He is been the topic of commerce rumors, however even when Robinson, who is about to play on an expiring $12.95 million contract, is dealt, the Knicks will possible achieve a rotational piece in return.
Final season, New York was final in bench scoring (21.7 factors per recreation). Throughout Brown’s two full seasons as Kings head coach, Sacramento ranked ninth (37.3 factors per recreation) and twelfth (35.7 factors per recreation) in bench manufacturing. (h/t RealGM)
Brown will likely be beneath immense strain to not simply preserve the usual set by Thibodeau however to exceed it. That is loads to ask. A minimum of Brown has been right here earlier than.
