James Borrego on Knicks’ radar after Brown and Jenkins interviews

The New York Knicks continue their search for a new head coach and have reportedly « discussed the idea » of interviewing James Borrego, currently assistant coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, according to The Athletic. This prospect adds to the already advanced candidacies of Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins.

Brown and Jenkins leading the race, Borrego waiting in the wings

The Knicks leadership has already conducted « impressive » interviews with former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown and ex-Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins « over several days ». These two candidates are currently considered favorites to succeed Tom Thibodeau, who was fired on June 3rd.

However, the New York franchise hasn’t ruled out the idea of talking with James Borrego. The former Charlotte coach has solid NBA experience, including a four-season stint with the Hornets between 2018 and 2022, where he accumulated 138 wins in 301 games. He also served as interim coach at Orlando for 30 games in 2014-15.

An offensive-minded profile for the Knicks

Borrego is known « throughout the league for his offensive creativity and analytics-driven approach ». This reputation could appeal to the Knicks, who had the 5th-ranked offense in the NBA during the 2024-25 season with a 51-31 record. The franchise reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games.

The former assistant to Gregg Popovich at San Antonio, with whom he won two NBA titles in 2005 and 2007, was also in the running for positions in Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Detroit in 2024. He eventually withdrew his name from the Pistons list to stay with the Pelicans staff, a position he’s held for two years.

The Knicks have also tried to interview several current head coaches, including Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, but faced rejections. The search continues as the franchise looks to build on its promising season.