Mike Brown made it clear hes ready for the challenge as he was officially introduced as the New York Knicks new head coach on Monday.
Brown becomes the franchises 32nd head coach, replacing Tom Thibodeau, who was fired on June 3rd just three days after the Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
You talk about a historic franchise. Madison Square Garden. Its iconic. Our fans, theyre the most knowledgable and passionate in all of sports, Brown said during his first press conference. Theres a lot of work to be done. We have an outstanding roster, what they did in the playoffs shows their potential. Ive had great conversations with all of our players and Im looking forward to growing positive relationships with them over time.
Brown also addressed the expectations that come with taking over one of the NBAs most scrutinized teams.
Nobody has any bigger expectations than I do. My expectations are high. This is the Knicks. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it. So Im looking forward to it, he said.
The 55-year-old coach praised Thibodeau for his impact on the organization during his five-year tenure and highlighted the teams off-season moves, including the additions of Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele.
I thought Tom Thibodeau did a great job, and the guys did a fantastic job last year, Brown said. But Im looking forward. We just added two new additions to the team. Theyre gonna bring a lot of versatility to how were gonna play. I cant wait to get on the court.
Browns coaching rsum includes two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a year with the Los Angeles Lakers, and a memorable run with the Sacramento Kings where he snapped their sixteen-year playoff drought in 2023. Most recently, he served as associate head coach for the Golden State Warriors.
Our goal is to build a sustainable winning culture that produces championships, Brown said. Thats why Im here.
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