The New York Knicks have broadened their search for a new head coach. Most recently, they added former Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori to their roster of prospective hires. This decision is taken as the Knicks are looking to do the same with their coaching staff after a lost season.
At 47, James Borrego has the experience and qualification credentials to match. James Borrego was the Hornets head coach from 2018-2022. In his time, Borrego guided the Hornets to the play-in tournament two times. He demonstrated that he is capable of taking a program to the elite level in an extremely challenging conference. That’s an impressive accomplishment, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep his job. He finished his tenure with a mark of 138-163 before being fired following the 2021-22 season.
Following his departure from the Charlotte franchise, Borrego would accept a position with the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s been further refining his coaching skills there, too. His formal interview with the Knicks now has him positioned as the leading candidate for the job. This decision demonstrates the franchise’s commitment to going after experienced candidates who have demonstrated their success at the highest level of play.
Beyond Borrego, some observers have emerged Micah Nori as another potential candidate for the Knicks’ coaching position. He’s been an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves since 2021, working under head coach Chris Finch. He learned a lot about player development and the strategy of the game itself over his time with that Minnesota organization. That experience makes him an appealing candidate in the Knicks’ ongoing coaching search.
Publicly, the Knicks have reportedly completed formal interviews with a number of candidates. Among them are Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins, both recently relieved of duties as head coaches at the conclusion of last season. Brown has coached the Sacramento Kings, Jenkins the Memphis Grizzlies. Interestingly, each coach brings a distinct philosophy and resulting experiences—both positive and negative—to the discussion.
With Borrego’s proven track record and Nori’s emerging coaching reputation, both candidates present intriguing options for the Knicks as they look to turn their fortunes around in the upcoming season. Everyone’s going to be looking carefully at how the franchise makes its decisions. They’re still searching for a leader who can guide them back to the playoffs.
Leave a Reply