GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Mike Brown knows there's going to be pressure that comes with coaching the Knicks. He also knows there's a great roster and great restaurants waiting in New York.
He's excited about all of it.
The new Knicks coach shook off any concerns about taking over a team that despite getting two wins from the NBA Finals, pointing to the positives Tuesday that made him want the job.
鈥淣obody has any bigger expectations, first of all, than I do. I mean, my expectations are high,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淏ut this is the Knicks. I talked about Madison Square Garden being iconic. You talk about our fans. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it, so I鈥檓 looking forward to it.鈥�
a little more than a month after the Knicks surprisingly fired Thibodeau despite getting to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years. Brown didn't want to talk too much about that decision, last season.
鈥淔irst of all, Tom's a tremendous coach and he is a friend of mine, but I don鈥檛 want to get to the past,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just excited about the roster. I鈥檓 excited about the things that we鈥檙e going to put in place here and where we could go with the guys that we have.鈥�
The Knicks went 51-31 last season and have one of the strongest starting fives in the league, headlined by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. They would have gone into next season as one of the favorites in the East if they brought back their same team.
Instead, team president Leon Rose and owner James Dolan decided they needed to change coaches as they continue searching for their first championship since 1973.
鈥淥ur goal, starting with Mr. Dolan to Leon to the players all the way down to the fans, is to build a sustainable, winning culture that produces championships. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 here,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to know what it takes to create that success: a lot of hard work, a high level of commitment and a focus on today.鈥�
Brown talked about wanting to win and called New York 鈥渁 great place that has like thinking.鈥� He is eager to build a partnership with Rose, the former player agent who represented LeBron James when he played for Brown in Cleveland.
鈥淎nd then looking at the roster and the reality of it is, Ro said, 'We better move to New York because I鈥檓 a foodie,鈥� Brown said, referring to his fiancee who was seated in the front row. 鈥淪o when you combine all those things, it was a no-brainer for me.鈥�
Brown is 454-304 in 11 seasons, winning NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2009 with Cleveland and 2023 in Sacramento, when he led the Kings to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. They fired him 1 1/2 seasons later.
The Knicks equally valued his success as an assistant coach, winning an NBA title in 2003 under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and three more championships under Steve Kerr in Golden State. He also led the in a pre-Olympic exhibition game in 2021.
鈥淲hen I was in San Antonio with David (Robinson) and Tim (Duncan), it was about playing inside-out, and now fast-forward to my time with Steve it鈥檚 about pace and space and that鈥檚 where the game is,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚f you can't evolve you鈥檙e going to get left behind, and so I feel like I鈥檓 trying to do that and hopefully we鈥檒l be able to bring some of that here.鈥�
Brown believes he takes over a team that can play fast like he prefers, but also has the versatility to play other styles thanks to Brunson. He added that the Knicks' success in the postseason shows their potential.
The road to go even further next season is open for the Knicks, with Indiana and Boston likely to be weakened after stars Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum sustained Achilles tendon injuries in the postseason. But Brown said there is plenty of work to do.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a lot of good teams out there. Doesn鈥檛 matter if those guys are injured or not,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, teams are going to find ways to win. So we don鈥檛 feel like it鈥檚 going to be any easier just because of injuries.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press
