The New York Knicks are officially interviewing Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori for their vacant head coaching position, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Nori is one of three individuals who have been interviewed for the role so far, joining former head coaches Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins.
The Knicks parted ways with Tom Thibodeau despite their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. His dismissal was reportedly linked to concerns about his handling of player lineups and overall coaching judgment, following discussions between players and the front office after their playoff defeat to the Indiana Pacers.
According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, the Knicks also considered interviewing James Borrego, who previously served as head coach for the Charlotte Hornets.
Nori`s NBA assistant coaching career began in 2009 with the Toronto Raptors. He later held positions with the Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons before joining Minnesota in 2021. Before coaching basketball, Nori played baseball at Indiana University and started his coaching career there in 2005, initially as a hitting coach for the baseball team before moving to the Raptors organization.
Jenkins, aged 40, coached the Grizzlies for six years before being fired with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 season. His record in Memphis was 250-214, including three consecutive playoff berths from 2021-2023. The Grizzlies advanced past the first round only once during his tenure, in 2022.
Brown, aged 61, won his first NBA championship as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs and added three more rings while on the Golden State Warriors` staff. As a head coach, he holds a 454-304 record, featuring one Eastern Conference title (with the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers) and six playoff appearances.
The Knicks plan to bring back several key players next season, including All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson. Brunson was a vocal supporter of Thibodeau, but he, like other starters, played significant minutes late in the season, raising concerns about player fatigue and injury risk.
This season, three Knicks players ranked among the league leaders in minutes played. Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart were first and third respectively, both averaging over 37 minutes per game. Brunson, who missed some time due to calf and ankle injuries, was also in the top 20 for average minutes played.
Jasper Hawthorne