The Knicks announced the hiring of Kenny Payne as assistant manager Tuesday morning, with Payne becoming the first assistant assistant under new manager Tom Thibodeau.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported on August 9 that some members of the Knicks organization were optimistic that Payne would choose to make the leap to the NBA.
With Payne making that jump official, Thibodeau stepped in.
“I am thrilled that Kenny has joined my staff as an assistant coach,” Thibodeau said in a statement. “He has an extraordinary ability to build relationships with players and improve their skills. He knows what it takes to win and has learned from one of the best coaches in John Calipari. Kenny will be an amazing addition to our organization.”