Coming into the 2025 season, the New York Knicks fired their head coach Tom Thibodeau and hired Mike Brown. Mike Brown has been with many different superstars and has a lot of coaching experience. Last season, Thibodeau and the Knicks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals (ECF) for the first time since 2000, so coming into the 2025 season Brown had big shoes to fill.
There were many reasons why the Knicks fired Thibodeau, but the main reason was because of the lack of success. Although they made it to the ECF, their roster was considered championship contender level for many years and the Knicks did not win during any of them. Another reason was because many people felt that Thibodeau played his starters way too much and by the end of the season they were completely gassed and could not play to their full potential.
Coach Brown has a very successful background, which is one of the main reasons he was hired. Brown was the head coach of the Kings, where he won Coach of the Year. He was also head coach of the Lakers and assistant head coach of the Warriors, where he coached LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. He also won three NBA championships.
Coach Brown’s coaching style is very well-known in the NBA community. He is known for prioritizing good defense rather than how most teams prioritize offense. Brown is also known for having a fast pace and good ball moving offense. This is key in modern day basketball because every other team has fast pace offenses. For example, the Thunder won the 2024 NBA championship primarily because of their unstoppable offense and fast ball movement.
The Knicks are starting off hot this season, with an 9-6 record. The most notable game was on November 14 when the Knicks defeated the Heat 140-130. In this game, Knicks Captain Jalen Brunson was injured and unable to play, so someone on the bench had to step up. A bench player named Landry Shamet filled his spot and scored a career-high 36 points. Along with that, Jordan Clarkson had 25 points and Josh Hart had his first career triple doubles.
Both players were not starters and serve as proof that the Knicks may have fixed their problems with Thibodeau by hiring Mike Brown. They now have a true shot of winning the title.