Last year, Mike Brown was not a head coach in the NBA. In 2026, Brown has coached the New York Knicks, one of the league’s most historic franchises, to a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals over the San Antonio Spurs. That’s not bad for a coach whose hiring was highly criticized by so-called NBA experts.
Without question, Brown’s climb to success has been a long time coming. He’s suffered setbacks and losses, but he’s never let those moments get the best of him. In fact, those challenges fueled him and now, he’s on the brink of bringing the Knicks their first title since 1973. Here’s how Mike Brown became the Knicks’ unstoppable leader.
His First NBA Job Was A Video Coordinator
Brown played college basketball first at Mesa Community College before transferring to the University of San Diego, graduating in 1992 with a degree in Business Administration. The same year, Brown broke into the NBA on the ground level as a video coordinator and scout for the Denver Nuggets, his first job in the league.
He Had a Front Row Seat For the ‘Malice at the Palace‘
Before landing a head coaching job, Brown served as an associate head coach under Rick Carlisle for the Indiana Pacers. As fate would have it, he was on the bench during the infamous November 19, 2004, brawl between the Pacers and Detroit Pistons known as the “Malice at the Palace.” Brown was later credited with following star forward Ron Artest (now Metta Sandiford Artest) into the stands, bringing him back to the locker room during the melee.
He Coached LeBron James to His First NBA Finals
In 2005, Brown was hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, making him one of the youngest head coaches in NBA history at 35. During his tenure, he turned the team into a powerhouse in the league, leading LeBron James to his first appearance in the NBA Finals in 2007.
Fired By the Lakers After Five Games in 2012
After Brown was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011, it seemed like he finally found a permanent home with one of the league’s most prominent franchises. But just five games into his second season, he was fired by the Lakers after the team stumbled out of the gate to a 1-4 start.
Part of the Golden State Warriors Dynasty
Brown spent six seasons (2016–2022) as the associate head coach under Steve Kerr for the Golden State Warriors. During that time, he won three championships with the franchise (2017, 2018, 2022). As acting head coach in the 2017 playoffs, he stepped in when Kerr took time off to deal with health complications. He went on to lead the Warriors to a perfect 12-0 record during that stretch.
Funded Nigeria’s Olympic Basketball Team
From 2020 to 2022, Brown served as the head coach of the Nigeria Men’s National Basketball Team. Under his leadership, the team competed in the Tokyo Olympics. As a volunteer coach, he received no salary. To get the team ready for the world’s stage, Brown underwrote the team’s expenses. He paid for the team’s practice jerseys, travel, food, and lodging.
He Made NBA History as a Unanimous Coach of the Year
Brown made history in 2023 after he became the first unanimous winner of the Coach of the Year Award. That year, Brown led the team to a 48-34 regular-season record, securing the Pacific Division title and snapping a 17-year postseason drought, the longest in NBA history at the time.
Fired by the Sacramento Kings On the Way to a Game
Hired for the 2022–23 season, Brown made an immediate impact on the Sacramento Kings to a third-place finish in the Western Conference. Two seasons later, Brown’s relationship with the front office was strained. After a rocky 13–18 start to the 2024–25 season and a five-game losing streak, ownership fired Brown in December 2024 while he was about to catch a flight to the team’s next game.
He’s the Most Successful Knicks’ Coach in Almost 30 Years
In just one season, Brown is already one of the most successful head coaches in the history of the Knicks. Dominating the rest of the Eastern Conference during this playoff run, Brown led the Knicks to their first Finals since 1999. With a 2-0 lead in the series, they are the heavy favorite to win it all. If the Knicks do pull it off, it’s safe to say that Brown will never have to pay for another drink or meal in New York City for the rest of his life.
He’s Coached Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant
In his amazing coaching journey, Brown achieved a rare distinction that no one else can claim. He is the only coach to have coached the late Kobe Bryant (2011-2012), LeBron James (2005-2010), Steph Curry (2017), and Kevin Durant (2017). Those four legends are arublay the best NBA players over the past 30 years and Brown’s imprint is on each of their careers.
