Knicks plans to interview Mike Brown, Mike Woodson for Vacancy

The New York Knicks are still looking for their next manager and are said to speak with a name from their past about that job opening.

SNY.tv’s Ian Begley reports Knicks’ plan to interview former Knicks coach Mike Woodson once they begin analyzing candidates for the vacancy. Former Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau, former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson and Knicks interim coach Mike Miller are also expected to interview the job, for more reports.

In addition to Woodson in the potential mix for the opening, current Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown is also ready to interview for the job, reports The Athletic’s Shams Charnaia.

Brown is best known as the former Cleveland Cavaliers manager, who has driven in two separate bouts. On his first lap with the Cavs from 2005 to 10-10, he went in 272-138 and took Cleveland to the finals in 2007. His second bout, in 2013-14, saw him go 33-49 before being fired . He has also been a Los Angeles Lakers coach since 2011-13, going 42-29 in 71 games there.

In late May, Thibodeau was flagged as the best candidate for the opening. The Knicks fired coach David Fizdale in December after a 4-18 start. Since then, Miller has been an interim coach.

Miller, according to The Athletic, should receive an interview once the research process has officially started. Atkinson, who agreed to part ways on March 7, is reportedly likely to receive an interview.

Woodson last worked as an assistant coach with LA Clippers from 2014 to 18-18. He coached the Knicks from 2011-12 to 2013-14 and led the team to its most successful season for years. The 2012-13 team, under the leadership of Woodson, reached 54-28 years old, won the Atlantic division and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. This has been the only win of the Knicks playoff season since 2000.

Before coaching the Knicks, Woodson was the manager of the Atlanta Hawks from 2004 to 10-10, accumulating a 206-286 record that included three playoff appearances.

Begley reports that the opening interviews are expected to begin when New York shines on the rest of the NBA season. The league reportedly presented a plan to start the season over.

Thibodeau hasn’t trained since January 2019, when he was fired from the Minnesota Timberwolves as a coach and president of basketball operations. He racked up a 352-246 manager record between his engagements with Minnesota and the Chicago Bulls.

Knicks and basketball operations president Leon Rose are reportedly targeting their next coach “within the next few weeks”, but the schedule may be influenced by the NBA’s decision on how to deal with next season.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that the Nets and Houston Rockets may also have an interest in Thibodeau.