Key facts
- Mike Brown has won his fifth NBA championship, with the New York Knicks capturing their first title in 53 years.
- Brown, who previously won four championships as an assistant coach, is now one of two coaches to win a title with the Knicks.
- The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to secure the championship.
- Brown was hired as head coach last spring after the team fired Tom Thibodeau.
- Knicks forward Josh Hart credited Brown with understanding championship habits and bringing out the best in the team.
Mike Brown has achieved his fifth NBA championship, this time as the head coach of the New York Knicks, who defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to end a 53-year title drought. Brown, who was hired last spring after the team fired Tom Thibodeau, is now one of only two coaches in Knicks history to win a championship with the franchise, joining Red Holzman.
Brown, who previously won four titles as an assistant coach with the Spurs and Warriors, expressed his satisfaction with controlling what he could during the hiring process and letting events unfold naturally. He spoke fondly of his time coaching under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and with Steve Kerr in Golden State.
Knicks forward Josh Hart lauded Brown's invaluable contribution to the championship run, highlighting his understanding of championship habits and his ability to keep the team even-keeled. Hart stated that Brown's leadership was the primary reason for their success.
Brown maintained a light mood throughout the postseason, remaining calm even when the Knicks trailed the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 in the first round. The team went on to win 15 of their next 16 games. Brown acknowledged the difficulty of the journey, stating he was "gassed" but made the process appear effortless.