Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are excited about the Knicks’ hiring of Mike Brown as head coach: “He wants to push his team in any way shape he can” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The New York Knicks are one of the handful of teams that made a coaching change this season, which surprised the consensus since they’re coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. After a month of searching, New York hired two-time Coach of the Year awardee Mike Brown, who was fired by the Sacramento Kings last season. The Knicks’ move to hire Brown got the seal of approval from key players Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
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“I never had a relationship with him, but he always said kind words as an opposing coach. I always shook his hand, said what’s up, and gave him a nod. I feel the videos that we see on twitter like him like holding the team accountable in Sacramento, sprinting on the sidelines, it shows a different side of him like how he’s really animated and wants the best for his team. He wants to push his team in any way shape he can. I’m excited for this and see where it can take us, it should be fun,” said Brunson in the latest episode of the “Roomates Show.”
New look Knicks
Brown, a defensive-minded coach, will be tasked with taking the Knicks back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. That’s a lot of pressure considering that the former Kings coach is also taking over the seat that was filled by Tom Thibodeau, who led this New York team to its longest playoff run in 25 years. Brown will have to do it with his own style and approach, which is completely different from Thibodeau’s.
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Contrary to Thibodeau, Brown wants his team to play fast. This is going to be a huge adjustment, considering that New York was in the bottom five in pace last season. The newly hired coach also wants to create a scheme that fits his personnel on both ends of the court, which is why he wants to lean into the team’s depth and versatility.
“I don’t really got a relationship with him but he’s been part of great organizations and teams. He’s extremely competitive. Someone who I think will work well with our personality and the personnel we have already. It’s going to be great. Like what we talk about, adding JC, it’ll be good. Great depth, a lot of versatility, able to play big, small, fast, able to slow the pace. It’s going to be fun. It won’t be built in one day because of the new coach, play style, teammates, but extremely excited,” said Hart.
Brown is the drought breaker
Aside from his philosophies and schemes, Brown will also bring a ton of championship experience to the team. He’s been to the NBA Finals six times with three different teams. He’s also coached superstars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Stephen Curry, Tyrese Haliburton, and most recently, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. The coach knows what it’s like to handle superstars and lead them to championships.
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Brown has also been part of teams that have snapped their losing droughts, such as the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007, when they made it to their first NBA Finals, and the Sacramento Kings in 2023, when they made their first playoff appearance in 17 years. Could Brown lead the Knicks to the NBA Finals this coming season and break the 27-year drought?
Only time will eventually tell, but the fact that the Knicks hired Brown amid title or bust expectations depicts how much the organization believes in him and reflects in the way Brunson and Hart do, as well.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.