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New York Knicks: Five reasons to end the search and hire Mike Budenholzer

By Maxwell Ogden

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 22: Head coach Dave Joerger of the Sacramento Kings talks with Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks prior to the game on March 22, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 22: Head coach Dave Joerger of the Sacramento Kings talks with Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks prior to the game on March 22, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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It’s been a while since the New York Knicks have made the NBA Playoffs. While Carmelo Anthony was the star, let’s not forget it was Tyson Chandler who changed the culture and brought defense back. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
It’s been a while since the New York Knicks have made the NBA Playoffs. While Carmelo Anthony was the star, let’s not forget it was Tyson Chandler who changed the culture and brought defense back. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

3. Knicks Need A Winner

It would be delightful to say that the New York Knicks can hire an unproven head coach who can grow with this young team. It would also be delightful to say that the Knicks don’t have a fractured culture that existed well before Phil Jackson took office.

What the Knicks need more than anything at head coach, however, is a leader who can develop the future, hold players accountable, and win—and Budenholzer checks all three boxes.

There are other coaches who could fit the bill, but Budenholzer has proven that he’s unequivocally capable of defining roles and winning at a high level. Despite leading a Hawks team that never had a player who could consistently create in isolation, Budenholzer has a compelling résumé.

In addition to winning four championships as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, Budenholzer led Atlanta to overachieving success.

The Hawks made the playoffs in each of Budenholzer’s first four seasons as head coach. That includes 2014-15, when Atlanta set a franchise record for wins, won its first division title since 1993-94, and reached the Conference Finals for the first time since 1969-70.

Throw in the fact that Atlanta was still praised for playing hard and as a team during the tank job that was 2017-18, and Budenholzer is a winner.

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