REPORT: Knicks’ Mike Brown hire hinging on James Dolan’s approval

There is a clear-cut favorite for the position, but Dolan will have the final call on the hiring.

Nearly a month after firing Tom Thibodeau, the New York Knicks have finally—or so it looks—found a replacement of their liking.

That’d be former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown, who has emerged as the frontrunner following a second interview with the organization on Tuesday.

Of course, these are the James Dolan Knicks, so you know what must happen before we can write about the official announcement: franchise overlord Dolan must approve the move and will have the power to block the hiring altogether.

Oh, and just in case, Dolan had a little something to do with sending Thibs packing—in short, Dolan didn’t just approve the move, he initiated it.

This is what Marc Stein reported on Monday regarding the Knicks’ head coach hiring process (emphasis mine).

“The Knicks, according to league sources, have been telling prospective free agents since the NBA marketplace opened Monday night at 6 PM ET that their search to replace Tom Thibodeau is nearing a resolution.

“And former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown is widely regarded now as the favorite to land the position.

Yet sources briefed on the process stressed Tuesday that Brown, who has been in New York for the past two days, will require ultimate endorsement from Knicks owner James Dolan before he can be named Thibodeau’s successor. Brown won Coach of the Year honors with Sacramento in 2022-23 and is known as a defense-first coach dating to his previous head coaching stints with Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers.” — Marc Stein

Brown’s second meeting included Dolan directly, as first reported by SNY’s Ian Begley.

Begley confirmed Brown was indeed the first candidate granted a second interview, which was held in New York.

“Mike Brown’s second interview with Knicks is today, sources familiar with the process tell SNY. There’s a possibility that other head-coaching candidates may come in for second interviews. Brown garnered support in first interview. His interview today will include Knicks owner James Dolan; it’s common practice for a candidate to meet with team ownership in late stages of interviews prior to final decision being made. Knicks have also interviewed James Borrego, Taylor Jenkins, Micah Nori and touched base with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, according to the school’s athletic director.” — SNY’s Ian Begley

New York’s coaching search has been unorthodox, to say the least. The Knicks were denied interviews to several head coaches under contract, including Chris Finch, Ime Udoka, Billy Donovan, and Quin Snyder, as well as once-and-perhaps-still-favorite candidate Jason Kidd.

That led New York to hold interviews with Taylor Jenkins, Micah Nori, and James Borrego… as well as South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

Back to Brown, he’d bring a solid 454–304 career record to New York along with seven playoff appearances and a trip to the finals in 2007, managing a certain LeBron James. Brown earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in both 2009 and 2023, and before getting fired by the Kings last season, he led the franchise to their first playoff berth since 2006.

According to Stein, the Knicks might be considering a coaching staff structure where Brown is head coach and fellow candidate Borrego joins him as his top assistant. Rick Brunson, meanwhile, is expected to stay on staff, with Brown not opposed to keeping the older Brunson around.