The New York Knicks have finished interviewing candidates and are preparing to make a final decision on the vacant head coaching position.
After interviewing Golden State Warriors’ assistant, Mike Brown, the New York Knicks are preparing to make their next head coach official per reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Among the candidates are the aforementioned Brown, David Blatt, David Fizdale, Mike Budenholzer, Mike Woodson, Mark Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse, Kenny Smith, Juwan Howard, Jay Larranaga, and James Borrego.
It feels like it’s been an eternity since this head coaching search began, but it’s only been a few short weeks since president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry parted ways with Jeff Hornacek. But the waiting game looks to finally be over as the team is planning on hiring a new head coach this week.
Who that coach will be is still anybody’s guess. There are 11 candidates for the job and there isn’t a clear favorite as of now. The list includes television analysts, former players, NBA assistant coaches, G League coaches, and just about everything in between.
The coach Mills and Perry bring in will say a lot about the direction they look to head with the franchise. A guy like former Knick and former Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson would signal a commitment to defense and an aversion to the analytics movement. Someone like Jerry Stackhouse could mean that the organization wanted a young voice that could connect with today’s NBA player—something they didn’t think Hornacek did well. Budenholzer would indicate that the front office is looking for a steady hand with playoff experience that could take the young players on the roster to the next level.
The wait is almost over and once the head coach is announced, the focus will shift to the lottery and the draft.
