The New York Knicks are in the process of searching for a new head coach. If you ask Larry Brown, it should be Mike Woodson.
The New York Knicks have expanded the search for the next head coach beyond the limits it was expected to reach. Most entered the process with a solid idea of whom the Knicks should consider, but the front office has done far more than just its due diligence.
Steve Mills, Scott Perry, and Craig Robinson have met with a vast number of candidates, with no individual truly separating themselves from the pack.
One of the most intriguing names to surface in the coaching search is former Knicks head coach Mike Woodson. Woodson coached New York for parts of three seasons, including the most successful campaign of the post-Van Gundy era.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, former Knicks coach Larry Brown endorsed Woodson as the ideal choice for the organization.
"“I’ve read a whole lot of qualified candidates, but I can’t imagine anyone being more qualified than Mike,’’ Brown told The Post in a phone interview.“Mike’s family to me, we speak almost daily. I have a lot of admiration for him. He’s close to Bobby Knight. I think the world of him. When he was in New York, I thought he did a really good job. The year they struggled, they lost Jason [Kidd], Rasheed [Wallace] and Kurt Thomas. Those were three older, responsible leaders and great teammates. Mike loved New York. He had a great relationship with [owner] Mr. [James] Dolan."
Brown’s tenure with the Knicks was abysmal, but to call him anything other than an all-time great coach would be disingenuous.
More important than the messenger is the message itself. The Knicks have made the playoffs just four times since Jeff Van Gundy stepped down in 2001, and Woodson was responsible for two of those appearances.
That includes the 2012-13 season, during which the Knicks won 54 games, secured the Atlantic Division title, and won a playoff series.
It was New York’s highest win total since 1996-97, its first division title since 1993-94, and its first postseason series victory since 2000.
Woodson is widely regarded as one of the better defensive coaches in the NBA. He was also ahead of the curve in the way he emphasized the three-point shot, albeit while depending heavily on his wings going ISO on a consistent basis.
Nevertheless, Woodson has found success at both of his stops as a head coach, securing two 50-win seasons and five postseason appearances.
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In the eyes of Larry Brown, who has an existing relationship with Scott Perry, Mike Woodson is the coach who can return the New York Knicks to relevance.