The New York Knicks are set to interview 8-10 candidates for their head coaching position.
Moments after learning the New York Knicks plan to interview 76ers assistant Ime Udoka for their head coaching position, Adrian Wojnarowski reports New York will interview Orlando Magic assistant Pat Delany for the job.
But that’s not all! Spurs assistant Becky Hammon could also be interviewed, according to Steve Popper of Newsday. New York is expected to interview 8-10 candidates for their head coaching vacancy, including Chicago assistant Chris Fleming, according to SNY.
Delany was a consideration for an assistant role on recently-fired Knicks coach David Fizdale’s staff back in 2018, but ended up joining Steve Clifford on the sideline in Orlando.
Hammon is considered one of the top up-and-coming coaching candidates after spending the past six seasons working under future Hall-of-Fame coach Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. Udoka also spent seven seasons with Popovich, so it’s refreshing to see the Knicks considering multiple candidates from the Spurs coaching tree.
Fleming was an assistant coach under Kenny Atkinson in Brooklyn before joining Jim Boylan’s staff in Chicago. For people hoping Atkinson is hired for the Knicks head coaching position, perhaps Fleming’s interview is part of the decision-making process. Fleming played with Atkinson at the University of Richmond and was a key voice on Atkinson’s staff in Brooklyn, coaching the Nets offense.
Pat Delany has climbed the ranks on way to being considered for the New York Knicks job.
Similar to incumbent Knicks coach Mike Miller, Pat Delany had great success in the G-League, leading the Miami Heat’s affiliate Sioux Falls Skyforce to a 31-19 record during the 2013-14 season. He leveraged his success for an assistant role with the Hornets and Magic.
Delany cut his teeth in the NBA as a video intern for the Boston Celtics. He became close with Fizdale while working as a video coordinator with the Miami Heat, and later an advanced scout.
Knicks president Leon Rose continues to widen his net of coaching candidates as multiple reports place Tom Thibodeau as the favorite to land the job. It’s unclear if the organization is looking at possible assistants to join Thibodeau along the sideline; however, usually a head coach is given decent latitude in choosing their own staff.
Delany joins Thibodeau, Udoka, Fleming, former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, former Knicks coach Mike Woodson, and incumbent Mike Miller as candidates who have reportedly been granted interviews with Rose and the Knicks.
Hammon could be the eighth name added to that list. The 43-year-old coach is quite familiar with the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, having played for the New York Liberty between 1999-2006.
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The Knicks are expected to conduct interviews over the next few weeks before teams report to Disney for the resumption of the 2019-20 season.