Knicks Appoint Mike Brown, Aim for NBA Finals in 2025–2026 Season

The New York Knicks have made a significant coaching change, replacing Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown despite reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season, their best performance in 25 years. Brown, inheriting a strong roster largely intact from last season, aims to implement a faster offensive pace with spaced floor play while maintaining a physical defensive style similar to Thibodeau's. He also intends to better utilize the bench to reduce the heavy minutes played by the stars under the previous coach. The Knicks are entering the new season with high expectations, as injuries to key players on rival teams like the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers have opened a clearer path to a top seed and potentially the NBA Finals. Brown embraces the pressure and expectations, emphasizing daily improvement and his personal high standards for the team. Players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson acknowledge the coaching change and express readiness to adapt to Brown's style to help the team advance further than before.