Mike Brown embracing lofty expectations in first comments as Knicks coach

The Knicks are in win-now mode with a new head coach. And Mike Brown is ready for the pressure that comes along with it.

“Nobody has any bigger expectations, first of all, than I do,” Brown said Tuesday during his introductory press conference at the team’s practice facility in Tarrytown. “My expectations are high. This is the Knicks. I talked about Madison Square Garden being iconic. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it. So, I’m looking forward to it.”

Brown is looking beyond just ending the Knicks’ 52-year championship drought, however.

“Our goal, starting with Mr. [James] Dolan to Leon [Rose] to the players, all the way down to the fans, is to build a sustainable, winning culture that produces championships. That’s why I’m here,” said Brown, who’s won four NBA titles as an assistant coach.

The Knicks agreed to hire Brown last week after firing Tom Thibodeau in the days following the team’s elimination by the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, their first appearance in the conference finals in 25 years.

Brown, Taylor Jenkins, Micah Nori, James Borrego and Dawn Staley all spoke to the Knicks about their head coaching job after the team was denied permission to speak with the Mavericks’ Jason Kidd, Rockets’ Ime Udoka, Timberwolves’ Chris Finch, Bulls’ Billy Donovan and Hawks’ Quin Snyder.

Brown, 55, was most recently the head coach of the Kings, with whom he earned Coach of the Year honors in his first season two years ago.

Sacramento fired him 31 games into the 2024-25 season when they were 13-18.

He first became a head coach in 2005 with the LeBron James-led Cavaliers and reached the NBA Finals in 2007.