Mike Brown had worked WITH four championship teams, something the New York Knicks found appealing. For a franchise that has only won two titles in over 50 years but feels that the moment has come to win another, that sounds promising. After firing Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks turned to the two-time NBA Coach of the Year when they hired Brown on Monday. The Knicks announced on Monday that Brown would be taking over the team that made it to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years, following a job offer made last week.

The deal's terms were not revealed. Despite that postseason triumph, they chose to fire Thibodeau and ultimately chose Brown, who was still employed shortly after being fired by the Sacramento Kings the previous season.

"Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organisation. His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans," said Knicks president Leon Rose in a statement.

Brown was voted as the Coach of the Year after leading the Kings to a 48-34 record and their first postseason berth since 2006 in 2022-23. He also received the award in Cleveland, where he guided the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals. He worked with the Golden State Warriors in their 2017, 2018, and 22 titles, including going 12-0 as the interim head coach during the 2017 postseason when Steve Kerr was out due to a back injury. He was on the bench when the Spurs won the NBA title in 2003.

Brown has won at least 45 games in seven of his 11 seasons, going 454-304 overall. He will take over a Knicks squad that can win a championship. Before losing to Indiana in six games in the East finals, the Knicks defeated Boston, the 2024 champion, and won at least 50 games in each of the previous two seasons.

The Knicks will be among the East favorites because the Pacers will be without their top point guard Tyrese Haliburton for the upcoming season after he tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and the Celtics are in transition due to Jayson Tatum's injury and the trades of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, two All-NBA choices, are in their starting lineup. On Monday, they bolstered their bench by adding Guerschon Yabusele, who played for Philadelphia the previous season, and former Utah guard Jordan Clarkson, one of the league's top scorers.

The Knicks fired Thibodeau after he guided them to the postseason in four of his five seasons, possibly because he was reluctant to employ some of his bench players. They have not won a playoff series since 2013, but they have advanced to at least the second round in the past three seasons.

However, they have not taken home a title since 1973. About two months after the 55-year-old Brown's birth, they won their first championship in 1970.