Joshua Longstaff

Jonah Ballow

After coaching stops in his native New England and then Oklahoma City, Josh Longstaff now thrives on the unique pulse of the world’s greatest basketball city.

“Madison Square Garden is the best place to play, hands down,” says Josh, 33. “And then there’s just the everyday, seeing how the city operates. I live in the city so I get to feel the energy and the excitement every day. The people here are very passionate about whatever they’re doing, their own jobs, their own lives, but especially the Knicks. It drives you to really want to bring this city a winning team and bring the effort and the blue collar work ethic that this city is all about. Being from New England, I think I have some of that, so I’m right in my element here.”

A youthful NBA coaching veteran, Longstaff is in his third year on the Knickerbockers’ staff. He joined the Knicks as an assistant coach on Sep. 3, 2014.

Josh joined the Knicks after spending four seasons - 2010-11 through 2013-14 - with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He originally joined the Thunder as player personnel and video coordinator, then spent his final three seasons as video analyst and player development coach. He was a member of the Thunder staff when OKC won the Western Conference Championship in 2012.

“Josh is sort of the leader of our player development,” says head coach Jeff Hornacek. “Having guys that have been around here and know how things work is a benefit, and the players know him. Just talking with Josh and seeing the workouts he’s done, I can go to him and say, `Josh, put this in with the guys to work on...’ and he does it. He’s a workhorse in that respect. I just like the way he works with the guys. Our guys really listen to his instruction and when Josh is putting them through drills, I think the guys really understand what he’s trying to do for them and how to help them. He’s done a great job.”

Prior to joining the Thunder in 2010, Longstaff spent five years as a high school coach; two seasons as the head coach at Gorham (Maine) HS and three seasons as an assistant coach at Portland High School. The New England product shares in the sense of anticipation sparked by the Knicks’ roster overhaul prior to the 2016-17 season.

“There’s some excitement for sure,” says Josh. “We’ve added some players with different talents that will mesh together with what we’re trying to do with the Knicks. I think there’s a rejuvenation and excitement with the guys we’ve brought in.

“As far as myself goes, I really enjoy working for the organization and what we’re building towards. I think we’ve really put together a culture that shows the players that come here how important they are with how we make them feel. We just want to help them develop and improve on a daily basis. That’s kind of my main focus. Watching this organization grow, it’s a blessing to have the opportunity to coach here. Every day has been so exciting for me.”

A native of Portland, ME, Longstaff was a four-year letterman at Bryant University in Rhode Island, graduating in 2005 with a degree in marketing. While at Bryant, he was coached by Brian Keefe, whom he later joined on the staffs of the Thunder and Knicks and is now an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. Single, Josh lives in Manhattan.

joshua-longstaff

Charlie Widdoes

NEW YORK -– New York Knickerbockers President Phil Jackson announced today additions to the coaching staff, including assistant coaches Jim Cleamons, Rasheed Hazzard and Brian Keefe and assistant coach, player development Joshua Longstaff. Per team policy, terms of the deals will not be disclosed.

Cleamons rejoins the Knicks organization with over 30 years of coaching experience and 10 NBA championships to his name. The 64-year-old Lincolnton, NC joined the Chicago Bulls staff in 1989, staying seven seasons, and the Los Angeles Lakers staff for 10 seasons, winning nine NBA titles along the way. He served as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks for parts of two seasons (1996-98), the ABL’s Chicago Condors (1998-99) and China’s Zhejiang Guangsha (2011-12). He had also been an assistant coach for New Orleans (2004-05), and most recently, Milwaukee (2013-14). The Ohio State-alum played in the NBA for 10 seasons with the Lakers, Cleveland, New York and Washington, winning an NBA title as a rookie in Los Angeles in 1972. He signed with the Knicks on Oct. 7, 1977, playing three seasons in New York, averaging 7.4 points in 180 games. 

Hazzard spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers (2006-11), including as a member of NBA Championship teams in 2009 and 2010, working in player development and as an advance scout, and also as an assistant coach for the D-Fenders, the Lakers’  D-League affiliate. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at University of Portland after playing collegiately at George Washington University. His father Walt, was a member of UCLA’s 1964 NCAA Championship Team and played in the NBA for 10 seasons with the Lakers, Seattle, Atlanta, Buffalo and Golden State earned an NBA All-Star selection in 1968.

Keefe had been a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder organization for the past seven seasons, serving as an assistant coach for the last five years. He joined the Thunder in 2007 as a player development coach after two seasons as an assistant video coordinator with the San Antonio Spurs, including the NBA Championship team on 2007. Prior to his NBA career, Keefe was an assistant coach at Bryant University for four seasons (2001-05) and a graduate assistant at the University of South Florida (2001-01). He played college basketball at Nevada-Las Vegas and California-Irvine for two seasons each. 

Longstaff had spent the last four seasons working for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a player development role and as a video analyst. Previously, he coached high school basketball for five seasons in his home state of Maine and played college basketball at Bryant University.

Joshua Longstaff

Joshua Longstaff

Knicks Add to Coaching Staff