Knicks Name Larry Brown as Head Coach

“This is a great day for the New York Knicks and our fans,” Thomas said. “Larry Brown is not just one of the best coaches in the NBA today, but in its history. He has made every team he has ever coached a winner, with a legendary approach to teaching and motivating his players. His value to us as a franchise at this time is immeasurable.”

“I want to thank Isiah, Jim Dolan and Steve Mills, as well as all the Knicks fans who have given me their best wishes during this time,” Brown said. “There is no bigger stage than Madison Square Garden, and it is a privilege for me and my family to now be part of the organization and to be back in New York.”

Considered one of the greatest teachers the sport has ever seen, Brown has garnered numerous distinctions over his 33-years of head coaching experience. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, the Brooklyn, NY-native is the NBA’s fourth all-time winningest coach in NBA history with a record of 987-741 (.571), third all-time winningest playoff coach in NBA history with a 100-89 record (.529), 2001 NBA Coach of Year and three-time ABA Coach of the Year.

In 2004, Brown became the first head coach in basketball history to win an NBA Championship and NCAA Championship. In 1988, he coached the University of Kansas to its first National Championship in 36 years and most recently, in 2004, the 64-year-old led the Detroit Pistons to its first NBA title in 14 years.

In 22 seasons as an NBA head coach, 17 of Brown’s teams had finished with winning records and all 17 qualified for the NBA Playoffs. His teams advanced past the first round 12 times and reached the NBA Finals three times. The seven different NBA teams that Brown coached averaged more than seven wins better than before he arrived.

The NBA’s New York Knickerbockers basketball team, completing its 59th year of operation, is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns Madison Square Garden, L.P., which includes MSG Network; FSN New York; the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); Radio City Entertainment; the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League), and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.