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New York Knicks name Mike Miller interim head coach

By Rob Wolkenbrod

ERIE, PA - DECEMBER 03: Head Coach Mike Miller talks to his team during a timeout in a game against the Erie BayHawks at The Erie Insurance Arena on December 03, 2016 in Erie, PA. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Robert Frank/NBAE via Getty Images)
ERIE, PA - DECEMBER 03: Head Coach Mike Miller talks to his team during a timeout in a game against the Erie BayHawks at The Erie Insurance Arena on December 03, 2016 in Erie, PA. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Robert Frank/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks have named Mike Miller the interim head coach, replacing the outgoing David Fizdale, who was fired on Friday.

The New York Knicks fired coach David Fizdale Friday after weeks of rumors and speculation. It ended his tenure with just 21 wins including just four in the 2019-20 NBA season. Assistant coach Keith Smart was also let go in a corresponding move.

With 60 games left, the Knicks had to name an interim coach for the rest of the year, especially with a looming matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. Per The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania, assistant Mike Miller will take over as the interim head coach. He was previously rumored as a candidate before Fizdale was fired.

To fill the open coaching spaces, the Knicks will promote Keith Bogans from the G League to the NBA staff, also per Charania.

Miller, 55, has coached basketball for three decades. Most of his experience came from college, but he was an assistant for the G League’s Austin Spurs from 2013-15, before becoming the Westchester Knicks head coach from 2015-19.

Miller led Westchester to three winning seasons and a playoff series win in 2018-19. He was moved to the NBA staff afterward to replace Howard Eisley, who joined Juwan Howard‘s staff at the Michigan men’s basketball program.

Bogans was a Westchester assistant under Miller from 2017-19. Now, he gets the chance to gain NBA coaching experience after a decade-long playing career for the Magic, Bobcats, Rockets, Bucks, Spurs, Bulls, Nets, and Celtics.

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Miller and Bogans will be part of a staff tasked with changing the outlook of a 4-18 team. Players like Julius Randle and Wayne Ellington have underwhelmed from the latest offseason’s class of free agents; RJ Barrett has cooled down significantly since his red-hot start; and Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson and Allonzo Trier have not taken steps forward after promising rookie years.

There might be no resolution, and if the Knicks choose to make moves after Dec. 15, when free agents can be traded, the roster will deplete further. That makes it a no-win situation for the current coaching staff if it even is one already.

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Miller has just over 24 hours to settle in as the head coach. The task ahead is monumental and there is little reason to think this season can be salvaged over the next four months.

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