Knicks' Mike Brown Addresses Rumors About Coaching Staff Not Getting NBA Championship Rings Yet

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown declined to say whether he has received his NBA championship ring during a chat with reporters on Friday before his team took on the host Boston Celtics.

Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported Thursday that assistant coaches didn't get their championship rings on Tuesday night during a ceremony at Madison Square Garden honoring the 2025-26 NBA title winners.

Vardon also reported the following regarding Brown: "The Athletic received conflicting information about whether head coach Mike Brown received his ring on Tuesday and could not immediately verify if he got one."

Brown and assistant coaches were honored during the ceremony and received ring boxes. However, it's been reported the assistant coach boxes were empty, per Vardon, who added that they were told earlier Tuesday they wouldn't be receiving their rings on that night.

Vardon added the assistant coaches were not yet fitted for rings, and that the empty ring boxes "were a late addition to the ceremony."

In addition, Madison Square Garden employees received a phishing test email under the guise of them receiving championship rings. A "long list" of employees, per Vardon, got an email asking them about what design they wanted for their "complimentary employee championship ring."

Employees who clicked to choose their ring had to attend a mandatory cybersecurity class instead.

Needless to say, both the coaches getting empty boxes and employees receiving phishing emails are terrible looks for a franchise riding tremendously high vibes following the team's first championship in 53 seasons.

Brown, for his part, played a massive part in that run. The longtime NBA head and assistant coach joined the franchise during the 2025 offseason after New York decided to make a coaching change. He clearly made a wholly positive impact on the team, as did his assistants.

The team has now turned a page, though, in hopes of going back-to-back.