The Knicks are singularly targeted on profitable a championship. New head coach Mike Brown obtained the message loud and clear.
Brown understands the task at Madison Sq. Backyard and is embracing the championship-or-bust expectations that include his new job. The coach changing Tom Thibodeau inherits a 51-win roster contemporary off an Japanese Convention Finals look — and he wasted no time confronting these lofty aspirations head-on throughout his introductory press convention on the crew’s Tarrytown coaching facility on Tuesday.
“First of all, nobody has any bigger expectations than I do. My expectations are high. This is the Knicks. We talked about Madison Square Garden being iconic. We talked about our fans. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it,” Brown mentioned. “Our goal, starting with Mr. [James] Dolan to [team president] Leon [Rose] to the players, all the way down to the fans, is to build a sustainable, winning culture that produces championships. That’s why I’m here.”
Brown has by no means gained a championship as a head coach however is aware of what it appears to be like like. He’s been to 6 NBA Finals: as soon as as head coach of the 2007 LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers, as soon as as an assistant with Gregg Popovich’s 2003 title-winning San Antonio Spurs, and 4 occasions with the Golden State Warriors — together with three championships — as one in all Steve Kerr’s trusted assistants from 2016-2022.
“I’m fortunate to know what it takes to create that [championship] success: a lot of hard work, a high level of commitment, and a focus on today,” Brown mentioned as a part of his opening assertion.
Later, he spoke on the chance forward in an Japanese Convention many think about wide-open for the Knicks. Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton every suffered playoff Achilles accidents, eradicating Boston and Indiana from fast competition. Milwaukee waived Damian Lillard (Achilles), and Cleveland is predicted to open the season with out Darius Garland.
“First of all, you don’t ever want to see anybody get hurt. Especially the way those guys did. That’s unfortunate,” Brown mentioned. “Throw basketball out the window — that’s simply unlucky for them as people. On high of that, for his or her households and organizations. There are loads of good groups on the market.
“It doesn’t matter if those guys are injured or not. At the end of the day, teams are going to find ways to win. We don’t feel like it’s going to be easy, any easier, just because of the injuries. Going forward, we’re going to have to focus on this thing one day at a time, one practice at a time, one shootaround at a time, and try to get better each and every day, so when it comes time to make our move in the playoffs, we’re ready.”
Brown plans to lean on classes from teaching superstars throughout eras — from Tim Duncan to James, Stephen Curry to Kevin Durant, Draymond Inexperienced to De’Aaron Fox — to ship what New York has been ready over half a century to see.
“I learned a lot from all those guys,” Brown mentioned. “They’re all different. That’s what makes my experience, my background, unique — just being around those guys. All those guys helped me grow in some way, shape, or form, and they all, whether they want to admit it or not, they all have a little bit to do with why I’m standing right here.”
Brown is aware of the usual. The one query left is whether or not he can raise a franchise ravenous for its first title since 1973 to the summit it believes it’s prepared to achieve.
