
Knicks hire Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, as new head coach
'Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization,' Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. 'His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans.'
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Brown had led the Kings to the postseason in 2023 — their first appearance since 2006 — and was voted the Coach of the Year. He also won the award in Cleveland, where he led the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals.
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He was on San Antonio's bench when the Spurs won the 2023 NBA title and was with the Golden State Warriors for their 2017, '18 and '22 championships, including going 12-0 as the acting head coach during the 2017 postseason when Steve Kerr was sidelined with a back injury.
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Brown is 454-304 in 11 seasons, winning at least 45 games in seven of them.
He will take over a Knicks team with championship potential. The Knicks won at least 50 games in each of the last two seasons and knocked off 2024 champion Boston before falling to Indiana in six games in the East finals.

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He wound up playing only 19 games last season and is now routinely mentioned among the worst contracts in the NBA, alongside both George and Beal. If Booker does suffer a major injury within the next three years, the Suns don't have any outs in his new deal. Between injury risk and his aging curve, there's far more downside to locking him up this far in advance than there is upside. What's Next For Phoenix? From here, the big question is how the Suns will proceed with Beal. According to multiple reports, they're pursuing a buyout with him, although they aren't allowed to waive-and-stretch him like the Milwaukee Bucks did with Damian Lillard unless he gives back roughly $13.8 million in said buyout. If the Suns do come to terms with Beal on such a deal and wind up stretching the two years and $110.8 million remaining on his contract, they'll be left with a dead cap hit of roughly $19.4 million in each of the next five seasons. Based on current projections, they'd be paying Beal and Booker nearly $83.5 million combined in 2028-29, the first year of Booker's new extension, which would be roughly 45% percent of the projected salary cap. Ishbia told MacMahon in March that he has zero interest in pursuing a long-term rebuild, but at some point, he might not have much of a choice. The Suns don't have control over their own first-round pick until 2032. They've also traded away all but one of their next seven second-round picks, although they do have a 2027 first-round pick coming their way via the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers or Minnesota Timberwolves (the least favorable of those three). The Suns recouped solid value for Durant in Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick and five second-round picks. Granted, they proceeded to trade five second-rounders to move up twice in the draft this year for Rasheer Fleming (No. 31 overall) and Koby Brea (No. 41 overall), so they're now down to only two tradable second-round picks—their own in 2029 and the second-most favorable of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks or Philadelphia 76ers' pick in 2026. Perhaps Booker will be content riding out the rest of his career in Phoenix even if the Suns can't back into championship contention in the near future. If not, this extension might wind up making it harder to trade him or reduce how much teams are willing to give up for him. While the Suns might not be afraid of the second apron or massive luxury-tax bills, other teams certainly seem to be. If they continue plowing ahead and spending obliviously, it might only cost them in the long run. Unless otherwise noted, all stats via PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Follow Bryan on Bluesky.