Knicks Reportedly Not Expected to Hire HC Until After NBA Draft amid Mike Brown Rumors

Now that the New York Knicks have been able to start interviewing head-coaching candidates, they aren't necessarily going to rush into making a decision to have someone in place with the 2025 NBA draft on the horizon.

Per NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Knicks aren't expected to hire a new head coach until after the draft.

With the draft taking place over two nights from June 25-26, this means the earliest the Knicks can be expected to announce a hiring is next Friday.

Even though the Knicks fired Thibodeau on June 3, they didn't start formally interviewing candidates until this week. Some of that was because their initial plan involved trying to speak with currently-employed head coaches whose teams did not let them speak with New York.

Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins had interviews scheduled with the Knicks this week. Fischer reported Brown's interview took place on Wednesday.

SNY.tv's Ian Begley noted on Thursday that Brown and Jenkins are in the "top tier" of options for the Knicks.

Begley also cited Jason Kidd, who was among the initial group that was not permitted to speak with the Knicks, as a "wild card" because he is still under contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

Brown most recently spent three seasons with the Sacramento Kings. He was fired on Dec. 27 after a 13-18 start, but finished his tenure with a winning record overall (107-88).

Jenkins' six-year stint with the Memphis Grizzlies ended when he was surprisingly fired on March 28 despite the team's 44-29 record. He went 250-214 overall with three playoff appearances.

The Knicks aren't going to have a huge presence during the draft, so not having a head coach won't be a significant issue if they don't make a hire by Wednesday. They currently have just one pick in the second round at No. 50 overall.

Whomever the Knicks end up hiring will have big shoes to fill. Thibodeau led them to three straight playoff appearances, including their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years this season.