Knicks head coach Mike Brown might have dropped a delicate clue concerning the identification of his first staff at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Brown’s basketball philosophy has advanced alongside the game itself — from his early days on the bench with the Washington Bullets on the Cap Centre in Landover, Md., to championship runs with the Golden State Warriors.
“When I was in San Antonio with David [Robinson] and Tim [Duncan], it was about playing inside out,” mentioned Brown, who spent three years beneath Gregg Popovich earlier than stops in Indiana, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and ultimately Golden State. “Now fast forward to my time with Steve [in Golden State], it’s about pace and space.”
That evolution — from post-centric offenses with Tim Duncan and David Robinson to the pace-and-space revolution fueled by Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson — could possibly be a preview of what’s coming to New York.
“That’s where the game is. Like I said, if you can’t evolve you’re going to get left behind,” Brown mentioned. “I feel like I’m trying to do that. Hopefully we’ll bring some of that here.”
If that’s the case, it could possibly be a transformative shift. The Warriors’ free-flowing offense is the antidote to the Knicks’ typically stagnant, iso-heavy assault — one which leaned closely on Jalen Brunson, who held the ball greater than any participant within the league final season.
“The first thing is, everyone knows I like to play fast. And like I said, we have an outstanding roster,” mentioned Brown. “To have a guy like Jalen out there gives you the versatility to play all different kinds of ways. Which is what it’s gonna take over the course of a ballgame.”
BROWN’S NEW BIGS
How will Brown make the most of the pairing of Karl-Anthony Cities and Mitchell Robinson?
The Knicks solely received a small pattern measurement of their twin huge lineup final season as Robinson’s offseason ankle process delayed his season debut to late February. Now, with a full coaching camp — and playoff knowledge proving the Cities-Robinson lineup may be dominant on each ends of the ground — the brand new Knicks head coach has a chance to make the pair of seven-footers a everlasting staple of the staff’s identification.
“Once I get my staff together and we dive more into it, we’ll figure out all those types of things,” Brown mentioned in his introductory press convention. “I’m excited that they’re both on the team because they’re two different players. Mitch is a vertical threat. KAT, as you know, is a space threat. And so to have the versatility that those two guys bring to the table is gonna be a lot of fun.”
Cities averaged 24.4 factors, 12.8 rebounds and three.1 assists per recreation his first season in New York however struggled because the staff’s defensive anchor previous to Robinson’s return. The Knicks improved from their standing as a bottom-10 protection into the top-10 after their beginning middle returned to the ground.
EARLY SUMMER LEAGUE SLUMP
The Knicks misplaced their Summer season League debut in blowout trend, 104-86, to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. Each member of the beginning 5 — a bunch that featured returning younger gamers from final 12 months’s roster — completed with a field rating plus-minus of minus-14 or worse, with free agent ahead MarJon Beauchamp posting a game-worst minus-24 in 26 minutes of play.
Second-year ahead Pacome Dadiet, who the Knicks chosen twenty fifth total within the 2024 NBA Draft, completed with a team-high 17 factors on 8-of-13 capturing from the sphere, and backup level guard Tyler Kolek added 10 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists however turned the ball over 5 instances, an uncharacteristic string of giveaways for a gradual ground common. The Knicks chosen Kolek out of Marquette with the thirty fourth total choose in 2024. Second-year huge man Ariel Hukporti put up six factors, 5 rebounds and two assists towards the Pistons in his first little bit of prolonged run since tearing his meniscus in a Feb. 26 matchup towards the Philadelphia 76ers. And Kevin McCullar Jr. completed with 13 factors, six rebounds and three assists with a robust begin to the Knicks’ Summer season League opener on Friday.
Dadiet, Kolek and Hukporti are trying to make a case for end-of-the-rotation minutes to the Knicks’ teaching. McCullar and Beauchamp are amongst a crop of gamers competing for New York’s remaining minimal wage roster spot.
MYLES AWAY FROM INDIANA
New Bucks middle Myles Turner believes he may help the Bucks compete for a title within the Jap Convention.
Turner spoke to reporters in Milwaukee after leaving the Indiana Pacers fresh-off a visit to the NBA Finals to signal a four-year, $107M contract to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks.
“Ultimately [the decision to leave] was about just staying competitive. Two years ago, we got to the Eastern Conference Finals. Obviously last year, we got to the Finals but being there and being part of winning basketball just changed my perspective on this league, and I saw a chance to remain competitive here [in Milwaukee],” mentioned Turner. “And [Bucks GM Jon Horst] and [head coach Doc Rivers] have assured me winning is a top priority here, and we’re just aligned with our visions.”
“There’s a saying I hate: I hate when they say the grass ain’t greener on the other side,” he mentioned. “I’m confident enough to say the grass is gonna be green wherever I go. I truly believe that, and being on this side of things, I understand what was done to bring me here, but I’m in the prime of my career, still in the young part of the prime of my career, more focused than ever and more motivated than ever.”
The Pacers weren’t anticipated to stay within the championship hunt after Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals, an damage anticipated to sideline him your entire 2025-26 NBA season. Turner mentioned his resolution was strictly primarily based on alternative to win an NBA title.
“It wasn’t an easy one. I spent 10 years of my life in one place. But when I sat back and started to evaluate things and see where I was in my career, where I was in my life and what I wanted tor myself, I saw what the Bucks were putting together and I was excited for the opportunity,” he mentioned. “There was alignment issues, I think, on [the Indiana] side, as far as me and them, and just out of respect for their organization and out of respect for this organization, I’m to gonna speak on that too much, but again, this was just the best decision for me moving forward.”
