Here’s the latest news and buzz on the Knicks‘ search for a new head coach…
June 24, 8:58 a.m.
The Knicks are interviewing Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori for the head coaching job, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley confirmed.
This makes three candidates who’ve interviewed for the vacancy, as New York completed its initial interviews with Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown last week.
Begley notes that the door is still not closed on Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.
Nori, 51, has been the lead assistant coach for the Timberwolves under Chris Finch since 2021 after previous stops as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors.
June 12, 5:10 p.m.
Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins remains squarely on the Knicks’ radar as they continue their search for a new head coach, per people familiar with the matter, according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.
Jenkins, 40, was fired by Memphis after nearly six seasons with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season despite having a 44-29 record at the time. It was reported that the Grizzlies were anticipating on firing him after a first-round playoff exit, per ESPN.
The Grizzlies still made the playoffs with a 48-34, earning the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in four games.
Jenkins owns a career coaching record of 250-214 (.539) with his best season coming in 2021-22 when he led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed. That team lost in the conference semifinals, falling to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
New York is not in any rush with its search and are casting a wide net of candidates, Begley reported Wednesday.
June 11, 9:07 p.m.
The Knicks reportedly asked another team about the status of their head coach and were denied again.
According to the Chicago Sports Network’s K.C. Johnson, the Knicks reached out to the Chicago Bulls for permission to speak to Billy Donovan.
Per Johnson, the Bulls “value Donovan highly for his coaching acumen, communication skills and ability to connect with players and all members of the organization.”
June 11, 6:03 p.m.
The Knicks requested permission to interview Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder but have been denied, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
Syder is the fourth currently-employed coach to have their team deny the Knicks’ request to speak with them, joining Ime Udoka, Jason Kidd and Chris Finch.
Syder began his head coaching career with the Utah Jazz (2014-22), amassing a 372-264 record and a 21-30 record in the postseason. Snyder then joined the Hawks, where he’s led the team to a 86-93 record in the regular season and a 2-4 record in the playoffs since the 2022-23 campaign.
June 11, 9:22 a.m.
The Knicks requested permission to interview Jason Kidd, which the Mavericks declined, per multiple reports.
New York also recently asked for permission to speak with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch — with those requests also denied.
June 7, 2:58 p.m.
Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright is not a candidate for the Knicks job, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms.
Knicks team president Leon Rose and Wright have a close relationship and speak regularly, but because of that, Rose knows Wright is very happy as a retiree, Begley notes.
Of course, many speculated Wright could be a candidate because he coached Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges in college. Wright retired in 2022 after 21 seasons at Villanova and is now a college basketball analyst on CBS and TNT.
June 6, 1:18 p.m.
Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, and Jason Kidd are among the coaches currently under contract who the Knicks have degrees of interest in, reports SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.
Per Begley, the Knicks will request permission from the Mavericks to interview Kidd.
Marc Stein was first to report the expectation that the Knicks would ask to speak with Kidd.
Kidd, 52, has been the Mavericks’ head coach since 2021.
Udoka is the head coach of the Rockets, while Finch is the head coach of the Timberwolves.
Kidd wrapped up his Hall-of-Fame playing career with a stint with the Knicks, so there is some familiarity between the two parties.
If the Knicks wind up hiring Udoka, Finch, or Kidd, they will be required to send compensation to their former team.
June 4, 2:41 p.m.
The Rockets have “no interest in entertaining” a scenario where they allow head coach Ime Udoka to leave for the Knicks job, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
Per The Athletic, Udoka and the Rockets are “committed to the long-term project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason.”
Udoka, 47, has been the Rockets’ head coach since the 2023-24 season.
He served as the Celtics’ head coach from 2021 to 2023, and has worked as an assistant for the Spurs, 76ers, and Nets.
June 2, 12:40 p.m.
The Suns are hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to be their next head coach, which means potential Knicks candidate Johnnie Bryant is still available.
Bryant was reported to be one of the finalists for the job in Phoenix.
June 2, 3:02 a.m.
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reports that it would be surprising if the Knicks found their next head coach by the end of this week.
Additionally, Begley noted that people recently in touch with the team have downplayed the idea of Mike Malone being a slam-dunk hire.
Begley also noted that the early read is that Dan Hurley isn’t at the top of New York’s initial list, adding that Ime Udoka was a name he had heard mentioned. To hire Udoka, the Knicks would have to get permission from Houston and give the Rockets compensation to let Udoka out of his deal.
As far as Jason Kidd, Begley reported that he can’t see the Mavericks even entertaining the idea of letting Kidd go.
Here’s the latest news and buzz on the Knicks‘ search for a new head coach…
June 24, 8:58 a.m.
The Knicks are interviewing Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori for the head coaching job, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley confirmed.
This makes three candidates who’ve interviewed for the vacancy, as New York completed its initial interviews with Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown last week.
Begley notes that the door is still not closed on Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.
Nori, 51, has been the lead assistant coach for the Timberwolves under Chris Finch since 2021 after previous stops as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors.
June 12, 5:10 p.m.
Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins remains squarely on the Knicks’ radar as they continue their search for a new head coach, per people familiar with the matter, according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.
Jenkins, 40, was fired by Memphis after nearly six seasons with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season despite having a 44-29 record at the time. It was reported that the Grizzlies were anticipating on firing him after a first-round playoff exit, per ESPN.
The Grizzlies still made the playoffs with a 48-34, earning the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in four games.
Jenkins owns a career coaching record of 250-214 (.539) with his best season coming in 2021-22 when he led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed. That team lost in the conference semifinals, falling to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
New York is not in any rush with its search and are casting a wide net of candidates, Begley reported Wednesday.
June 11, 9:07 p.m.
The Knicks reportedly asked another team about the status of their head coach and were denied again.
According to the Chicago Sports Network’s K.C. Johnson, the Knicks reached out to the Chicago Bulls for permission to speak to Billy Donovan.
Per Johnson, the Bulls “value Donovan highly for his coaching acumen, communication skills and ability to connect with players and all members of the organization.”
June 11, 6:03 p.m.
The Knicks requested permission to interview Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder but have been denied, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
Syder is the fourth currently-employed coach to have their team deny the Knicks’ request to speak with them, joining Ime Udoka, Jason Kidd and Chris Finch.
Syder began his head coaching career with the Utah Jazz (2014-22), amassing a 372-264 record and a 21-30 record in the postseason. Snyder then joined the Hawks, where he’s led the team to a 86-93 record in the regular season and a 2-4 record in the playoffs since the 2022-23 campaign.
June 11, 9:22 a.m.
The Knicks requested permission to interview Jason Kidd, which the Mavericks declined, per multiple reports.
New York also recently asked for permission to speak with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch — with those requests also denied.
June 7, 2:58 p.m.
Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright is not a candidate for the Knicks job, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms.
Knicks team president Leon Rose and Wright have a close relationship and speak regularly, but because of that, Rose knows Wright is very happy as a retiree, Begley notes.
Of course, many speculated Wright could be a candidate because he coached Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges in college. Wright retired in 2022 after 21 seasons at Villanova and is now a college basketball analyst on CBS and TNT.
June 6, 1:18 p.m.
Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, and Jason Kidd are among the coaches currently under contract who the Knicks have degrees of interest in, reports SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.
Per Begley, the Knicks will request permission from the Mavericks to interview Kidd.
Marc Stein was first to report the expectation that the Knicks would ask to speak with Kidd.
Kidd, 52, has been the Mavericks’ head coach since 2021.
Udoka is the head coach of the Rockets, while Finch is the head coach of the Timberwolves.
Kidd wrapped up his Hall-of-Fame playing career with a stint with the Knicks, so there is some familiarity between the two parties.
If the Knicks wind up hiring Udoka, Finch, or Kidd, they will be required to send compensation to their former team.
June 4, 2:41 p.m.
The Rockets have “no interest in entertaining” a scenario where they allow head coach Ime Udoka to leave for the Knicks job, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
Per The Athletic, Udoka and the Rockets are “committed to the long-term project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason.”
Udoka, 47, has been the Rockets’ head coach since the 2023-24 season.
He served as the Celtics’ head coach from 2021 to 2023, and has worked as an assistant for the Spurs, 76ers, and Nets.
June 2, 12:40 p.m.
The Suns are hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to be their next head coach, which means potential Knicks candidate Johnnie Bryant is still available.
Bryant was reported to be one of the finalists for the job in Phoenix.
June 2, 3:02 a.m.
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reports that it would be surprising if the Knicks found their next head coach by the end of this week.
Additionally, Begley noted that people recently in touch with the team have downplayed the idea of Mike Malone being a slam-dunk hire.
Begley also noted that the early read is that Dan Hurley isn’t at the top of New York’s initial list, adding that Ime Udoka was a name he had heard mentioned. To hire Udoka, the Knicks would have to get permission from Houston and give the Rockets compensation to let Udoka out of his deal.
As far as Jason Kidd, Begley reported that he can’t see the Mavericks even entertaining the idea of letting Kidd go.
