logo
Knicks set to interview Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown as head coach search kicks into gear

Knicks set to interview Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown as head coach search kicks into gear

New York Post15 hours ago

The Knicks are moving on to coaching candidates they don't require permission to interview from their existing teams.
After being rebuffed in efforts to speak with current Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and multiple other potential targets, the Knicks will interview former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Kings coach Mike Brown, a source confirmed Friday night to The Post.
Those meetings are expected to take place at some point next week, The Athletic reported.
Advertisement
Team president Leon Rose's coaching search has mostly stalled since Tom Thibodeau was fired on June 3, three days after the Knicks were knocked out in six games by the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.
Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins watches his team play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
In addition to Kidd, the Knicks also were denied in their requests to speak with Houston's Ime Udoka, Minnesota's Chris Finch, Atlanta's Quin Snyder and Chicago's Billy Donovan, according to various reports.
Many believe the Knicks plan to circle back eventually on the 52-year-old Kidd, who has two years remaining on his contract, but ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Friday that the Mavericks 'are not interested in further negotiations at all. 'Don't even call back,' is the message that they wanted out there.'
Advertisement
A source told The Post last week that the Knicks and the Hall of Fame point guard had 'mutual intrigue' in a potential move.
Former Denver coach Mike Malone, who won an NBA title with the Nuggets in 2023, is also available after getting fired late in the regular season.
The Post also has reported that former Villanova coach Jay Wright is not interested in the position despite the presence of former Wildcat stars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges on the roster.
Advertisement
Former Kings head coach Mike Brown is set to interview with the Knicks.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The 40-year-old Jenkins posted a 250-214 mark during six seasons in Memphis, but the Grizzlies only won one playoff series over that span.
He was canned with nine games remaining in the regular season, and the Grizzlies were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Thunder after advancing through the play-in tournament.
Advertisement
The 55-year-old Brown was fired by Sacrmento in December season after leading the Kings to back-to-back 45-win campaigns the previouys two years.
He sports a career record of 454-304 in 11 seasons fronting the Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings, including a trip to the NBA Finals with Cleveland in 2006-07.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

30 years ago today: Rockets complete historic journey to second NBA championship
30 years ago today: Rockets complete historic journey to second NBA championship

USA Today

time10 minutes ago

  • USA Today

30 years ago today: Rockets complete historic journey to second NBA championship

30 years ago today: Rockets complete historic journey to second NBA championship It was June 14, 1995, when Hakeem Olajuwon's Rockets completed perhaps the most iconic run to a championship in NBA history. Now 30 years later, we're taking a look back. On this day 30 years ago, the 1994-95 Rockets finished off what could be the toughest path to a championship in NBA history. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Hakeem Olajuwon led Houston in Game 4 versus Orlando with 35 points and 15 rebounds, sending 'Clutch City' to a 113-101 home victory (box score) on June 14, 1995, and securing a series sweep. Mario Elie chipped in with 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting (81.8%) from the field, including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%). All-Stars Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny' Hardaway each scored 25 for the Magic. HoopsHype has more perspective on the historic journey by the sixth-seeded Rockets to a second consecutive NBA crown. According to research in which we looked at every team's path to their eventual championship wins, the 1994-95 Rockets had the toughest road ever to winning a title. The worst team they beat had a 57-25 record, and that was their Finals opponent, the Orlando Magic, who boasted a lineup featuring Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, amongst many valuable role players. In all, the 1995 run can be summed up perfectly by the postgame quote that night from legendary head coach Rudy Tomjanovich. 'Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion!' To this day, it remains the most recent NBA title for the Rockets. However, led by head coach Ime Udoka, the current Rockets would like to change that in the near future. More: Rockets, Mario Elie celebrate 30-year anniverary of iconic 'Kiss of Death' in NBA playoffs

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff rips Knicks for firing Tom Thibodeau
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff rips Knicks for firing Tom Thibodeau

New York Post

time15 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff rips Knicks for firing Tom Thibodeau

Tom Thibodeau's Knicks sent J.B. Bickerstaff into offseason mode earlier than he wanted, yet the Pistons' coach is still sticking up for his former colleague. Bickerstaff joined the growing list of those criticizing the Knicks for moving on from Thibodeau after five seasons following their ouster in the Eastern Conference finals. While Bickerstaff did not specifically mention the franchise, his remarks came after being asked how the Knicks firing Thibodeau and seeking permission to talk to employed coaches is resonating across the NBA. 'I don't want to call it the cherry on top, but it's the final straw, I think, of what has happened this season and the level of respect that we feel coaches deserve versus what they are getting,' Bickerstaff said on ESPN Radio's 'Joe & Q' on Friday. 'Some of the decisions made down the stretch with firing coaches, it just shows that there are some places that don't value what coaching is and what it can bring. When you are a coach, you feel like there is a job that you have been told to do. And when you go out and do that job well, you should carry it over to the next year. If you have had past successes, that should envision future successes. You can't guess what the future is going to look like with somebody new.' 3 J.B. Bickerstaff coaching against the Knicks in the playoffs. JASON SZENES/ NY POST The Knicks' parting ways with Thibodeau has been a hotly debated topic, although there have been some notable names recently saying the Knicks made a mistake. Charles Barkley said the Knicks are the 'stupidest damn people,' Dick Vitale called the situation 'embarrassing' and suggested they actually re-hire Thibodeau and ESPN analyst and former NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo said the Knicks are their own worst enemy and believe they're smarter than everyone else. 3 Tom Thibodeau is out as Knicks coach. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The timing of this firing has confused some since the Knicks axed the veteran coach after the franchise's first conference finals run in 25 years and following a fourth playoff berth in five years. Bickerstaff, whose Pistons fell to the Knicks in six games in the first round, said coaches don't like seeing their brethren dismissed following a successful campaign. 'That's the difficult part from a coach's standing,' Bickerstaff said. 'We understand it and we know the job we signed up for is a dangerous job. But, from a coach's standpoint, it is our responsibility to be honest and tell the truth. Our job is extremely difficult. To win in the NBA is extremely difficult. To build teams in the NBA is extremely difficult. To lead guys, who have the superstar power in the NBA, is extremely difficult. So when a guy does a great job at it, from the outside looking in, we want to see that guy get rewarded. And it seems to be cases now where guys that do a great job aren't even being rewarded with a next year.' The Knicks felt they needed to make a change to improve their chances of winning a title, The Post previously reported, and some players did not love Thibodeau's approach. The team's search is off to a bumpy start with five teams — the Rockets (Ime Udoka), Timberwolves (Chris Finch), Hawks (Quin Snyder), Mavericks (Jason Kidd) and Bulls (Billy Donovan) — denying permission to talk to their respective coaches. 3 J.B. Bickerstaff congratulates Jalen Brunson after his shot eliminated the Pistons in Game 6. Getty Images The Knicks instead have now set up interviews with a pair of coaches who were dismissed during the season in Taylor Jenkins, formerly of the Grizzlies, and Mike Brown, who led the Kings.

Thunder embraced their moments of adversity this season. It paid off in Game 4 of the NBA Finals
Thunder embraced their moments of adversity this season. It paid off in Game 4 of the NBA Finals

San Francisco Chronicle​

time29 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Thunder embraced their moments of adversity this season. It paid off in Game 4 of the NBA Finals

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The book is called 'The Obstacle Is the Way.' It's a gift that Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault gave to Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein during a trying time this season, knowing the voracious reader would figure out the meaning. Message delivered. 'I read it and remembered that everything happens for a reason,' Hartenstein said. 'And after that, everything worked out great.' Such has been the story of the Thunder season. Such was the story of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Faced with the biggest challenge of their season — a 10-point deficit in the second half, staring at a very real chance of the Indiana Pacers grabbing the almost-insurmountable 3-1 lead in the title round — the Thunder, once again, came away saying everything worked out great. Led by a dazzling and frantic finish from the reigning MVP and scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — who had 15 of his 35 points in the final five minutes or so — the Thunder rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Indiana 111-104 on Friday night. The series is now tied 2-2, heading back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday night, and it's the Thunder who have home-court advantage again. 'That was an uphill game against a great team,' Daigneault said after Game 4 in Indianapolis, simultaneously lauding his team while also raving about the Pacers. 'This is one of the best teams in the league in the last couple months, since All-Star break. They're a hard team to beat here. They're a hard team to beat, period. I thought we gutted it out on a night when we didn't have a lot going, especially offensively.' It was a night when the Thunder made only three 3-pointers and were shooting 45% with about five minutes left before Gilgeous-Alexander got going. He took 11 shots in the final 4:40 — three field-goal attempts, one of them a 3-point try, and eight free throws — and made them all. A perfect finish, on a night when little had gone to plan. 'It's unbelievable," Daigneault said. 'He really didn't have it going a lot of the night. He was laboring. We had a hard time shaking him free. For him to be able to flip the switch like that and get the rhythm he got just speaks to how great of a player he is.' It might not have seemed so to the outside world — those who fixated on things like Oklahoma City's 68-14 franchise-best record, its 16-game lead over its nearest challenger in the Western Conference standings, a record number of double-digit wins and how all of it was led by the MVP and scoring champion in Gilgeous-Alexander. But the Thunder did, in fact, face some adversity this season. They played without Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein for a while during the year. There was some flux to the lineup at times. Everybody probably had some sort of mini-slump along the way. There was a Game 1 loss in the second round to Denver. And Daigneault embraced every bit of that pain, knowing that for the Thunder to get to where they want to go adversity was going to present itself. Like the being-down-10, late-third-quarter sort of adversity that came up in Game 4. Just like Hartenstein was led to believe by the book, everything worked out great. 'We haven't really had to show it a lot this year, with the success we had in the regular season,' guard Jalen Williams said shortly before the team left for the flight back to Oklahoma City, where a huge crowd showed up in the middle of the night to greet the team at the airport — as they often do. 'We've had a lot of ups and downs during the playoffs. We've just learned from those experiences. That is something Mark is really big on; every game you should be able to learn, then the next game you should be able to apply something and get better at it. That's what we're trying to do every time.' The series is far from over and the Thunder know it. Indiana already has won once at Oklahoma City in these finals; surely, the Pacers think they can do it again. And even though the teams finished 18 wins apart in the final standings — OKC won 68 times, Indiana won 50 — it doesn't seem like 18 wins worth of disparity between the clubs right now. Indiana stole Game 1 at the end. Oklahoma City stole Game 4 at the end, albeit not as dramatically as the Pacers took the opener. Game 2 was pretty much controlled by the Thunder throughout; the Pacers had the best of the play for the majority of Game 3. Add it up, and it looks exactly like what it is — a 2-2 series going into Game 5. 'I still feel like we have so much work to do,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'Halfway there, obviously, but still so far from the finish line.' ___

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store