LAS VEGAS — Following a recent discussion with Knicks head coach Mike Brown during the NBA Cup coverage, analyst Stan Van Gundy praised Brown for effectively managing his ego in the locker room and for not drastically changing the successful framework laid by former coach Tom Thibodeau.
“I give Mike Brown a ton of credit because he knows that Tom is a helluva coach,” Van Gundy, a veteran coach himself, stated in an interview before Brown’s Knicks competed against the Magic in the NBA Cup semifinals. He highlighted Brown’s approach of making minor adjustments instead of overhauling everything dramatically. “He’s taking advantage of the continuity they have with their roster rather than throwing everything out and trying to do it differently.”
Despite starting his tenure by emphasizing pace and depth, Brown has gradually steered the team back towards familiar territory. He reinstated last season’s starting lineup, notably moving Josh Hart into the forefront and sending Mitchell Robinson to the bench. With injuries significantly impacting player availability—particularly Miles McBride and Landry Shamet—the rotation has tightened, limiting bench contributions.
Prior to Saturday’s game, the Knicks found themselves ranked 26th in the NBA for pace, mirroring last season’s struggles. However, under Brown’s guidance, the team showed improvements in offensive and defensive ratings, positioning itself second in offense (compared to fifth last season) and tenth in defense (up from 13th).
Van Gundy commended Brown’s ability to recognize Thibodeau’s coaching strengths and the successful foundation built last season. “He’s trying to build on it,” Van Gundy said. “Mike’s been great everywhere he’s been… we’re just trying to take this team as far as we can.”
Interestingly, a significant shift under Brown has been the increase in three-point attempts, with the Knicks launching nearly seven more per game and achieving an impressive 37.8 percent success rate before Saturday.
Van Gundy praised the decision to revert to the previous season’s starting lineup, citing several reasons for this strategic choice, particularly concerning Robinson’s injury history and the resultant stability in starting positions. He noted that Karl-Anthony Towns shines brightest when playing at center, allowing him to be more effective and comfortable, thus easing him into the game’s rhythm.
As the season progresses, expectations for the Knicks are notably high, with Dwyane Wade, Hall of Fame player and Amazon Prime analyst, declaring them as potential favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference. Wade attributed this optimism not only to last year’s success in reaching the conference finals but also to the ongoing development within the team and the new coaching dynamics. With Brown at the helm and a solid foundation in place, the Knicks are looking firmly toward future playoff success.