The New York Knicks’ long and drawn out coaching search finally ended last week when the team elected to hire former two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown.
The team had a handful of candidates to choose from, including James Borrego, Taylor Jenkins, Dawn Staley, and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, who the Knicks were particularly impressed with.
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Per SNY’s Ian Begley, despite not landing the job, the Knicks walked away from Nori’s interview impressed with the 51-year-old assistant.
“ He didn’t get the job, but Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Noriimpressed the Knicks during the interview process. According to people in touch with the team, Nori’s insight on workload/player production stood out during the Knicks’ interview process,” Begley said. “ Mike Brown, Nori, Taylor Jenkins, James Borrego and Dawn Staley were the known interviewees for the Knicks opening. The Knicks were always leaning toward hiring a head coach with NBA experience, but Nori’s interview certainly gave them something to think about.”
Nori has been in an assistant coach role with the Timberwolves since 2021. He has also spent time with the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons in his 16-year coaching career.
In the 2024 Playoffs, Nori took over for Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch after he suffered a patellar tendon injury. Minnesota would advance all the way to the Western Conference Finals where they lost in five games to the Dallas Mavericks.