Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosely will get an interview during the Knicks head-coaching search, SNY sources confirmed.
Mosely joins a group of nine known candidates who will interview for the opening.
The Knicks are expected to have brief introductory interviews with some candidates this week, for SNY sources. Those introductory interviews, which will be conducted via video conference, will be followed by longer, more formal interviews, sources say.
In Mosely, the Knicks will be talking to an assistant who is viewed by several opposing teams as an emerging star in NBA coaching. Members of those opposing organizations praised Mosely for forming deep relationships with players and being able to hold those players accountable, a coveted trait and difficult balance to achieve in coaching.
He’s known to have built a very strong relationship with Luka Doncic and has been one of the key coaches involved in Doncic’s development. Mosely has coached under Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle for six seasons. He serves as Dallas’ defensive coordinator. He previously coached in Denver (2005-2010) and Cleveland (2010-2014) before joining the Mavs. Mosely, who interviewed for the Cavs vacancy last year, has also served as an assistant for USA Basketball.
In addition to Mosely, the Knicks are expected to interview Chicago Bulls assistant Chris Fleming, Philadelphia 76ers lead assistant Ime Udoka, Orlando Magic assistant Pat Delany, Spurs assistant Will Hardy, ex-Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, former Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Interim head coach Mike Miller will also get an interview with the Knicks. Team president Leon Rose was thoroughly impressed by Miller in the brief time he spent around the coach this season (prior to the suspension of the year due to coronavirus), as SNY reported.
Miller will likely get an offer to be an assistant – or to take on another role in the organization – if Rose doesn’t name him head coach.
It’s unclear who else New York will interview. Jason Kidd and Mark Jackson both have fans in the organization. There is some support in the organization for Kidd to be among those who get an interview for the opening, for sources. Spurs assistant Becky Hammon was described by a source as a name to keep an eye on for a potential interview, as Newsday first reported.
There is also some interest in bringing in former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown in for an interview, for sources. It would make sense if other ascendant assistant coaches, such as Milwaukee’s Darvin Ham and Utah’s Johnnie Bryant, get an audience with New York.
Agents and coaches who have a vested interest in the Knicks’ process have long believed that Rose is most likely to hire Thibodeau. But there is legitimate internal support for Atkinson, as SNY reported last week.
If they aren’t hired as the head coach, Woodson, Miller and other candidates outside of Atkinson and Thibodeau could be added as assistants on the new coaching staff.
The Knicks’ plans to interview Udoka were first reported by The Athletic. The club’s plans to interview Delany and Mosely were first reported by ESPN.