I'm still on a championship high (probably until Banner night in October to be honest), so I'm dropping more Pondering 10s as my brain (and heart) works through all of the emotions and reflection from my beloved New York Knicks - 2025-2026 NBA Champions!
Let's talk coaches.
We've been through so many. My fellow Knicks fans, we've seen so many coaches walk the sidelines of Madison Square Garden, and the recent championship is so amazing to think about - Mike Brown, one year, title.
With that said, here is a list of my favorite Knicks Coaches (in my lifetime, so no Red Holtzman). It's tougher than you think, but we're doing it.
To begin, here are those banned from this list. On the sheer qualifier that these coaches - by fault of their own, or maybe not - will always resonate with disdain and the lowest of the lows.
Derek Fisher
Oh, the Phil Jackson era. When we were given a coach who had never done so before, implementing the triangle offense was more important than anything else.
Isiah Thomas
This doubles with his tenure as President. He was forced into coaching once things hit the skids as a last resort to make the teams during this era work. I'll forever despise Thomas flashing his hands repeatedly for floppy action for Crawford off of a Curry post-up. We all knew it...
David Fizdale
Ugh.
Larry Brown
I had no idea what Larry Brown was doing - ever. Neither did the players.
Here is the following Pondering 10 list of my favorite Knicks head coaches in my lifetime.
10. Jeff Hornacek
We're reaching the lower numbers here on this list. Hornacek took over for the woeful Derek Fisher and was instructed to do more of the same in pushing the triangle offense. Hornacek didn't have the greatest roster, but I can honestly say he wasn't terrible. And for that period, that was a plus.
9. Don Chaney
Chaney had a tough job in replacing Jeff Vand Gundy. He was also the coach of the first period, where the Knicks really began to suffer. His last season in 2003-2004 resulted in 39 wins. Not great, but again, that roster was in flux coming off some high years.
8. Mike Miller
Miller gets a boost here because he took over for Fizdale, who went 4-18 to begin the year, then led the same roster to finish the season 17-27. What a year. But even in the moment, Miller not only felt like a breath of fresh air, but he felt like a reasonable option before Thomas Thibideau entered the picture.
7. Herb Williams
Herb is beloved as a player. Was a tremendous assistant coach for years. And step in whenever the Knicks needed an interim coach to steer the ship. Always love for Herb. Herrrrrrrrrrrbbbbbbbb!
D'Antoni's time as head coach is definitely one that deserves a podcast or book. There is a lot there. I personally thought D'Antoni did a tremendous job considering what was around him. There were highs, lows, and certainly a period during which the organization felt disagreeable on vision. D'Antoni's era didn't bring high-level winning, but the product certainly was watchable again.
5. Pat Riley
Riley slides only because I can only remember 92-93 and on...
Riley led that 93-94 team to the finals and had more times in 94-95. While he's sort of remembered as a villain as President of the (rival) Miami Heat, Riley still stands as a coaching staple during my lifetime.
4. Jeff Van Gundy
How could Jeff Van Gundy NOT make this list? From my now second-favorite Knicks team of the 98-99 Knicks, and a few years afterwards, Van Gundy was so vital towards keeping winning in New York going, in a different way, and with a different vibe than that of the Riley years.
3. Mike Woodson
So underrated, even though he is number 3 on this list. Woodson provided some "island years" of success by taking over for D'Antoni midseason in 2011-12, going 18-6, and then the following year with a 54-28 season.
2. Tom Thibeddeu
My dude. Thibs resurrected this franchise, and deserves a ton of credit. A lot of the current culture and winning is because of his leadership. Holding out hope that he gets some love and recognition in all of the current celebrations.
1. Mike Brown
Yo. One year. Broke the curse. Won it all.
Brown had the highest expectations I can ever recall in accepting any sports coaching position. And he got it done. It's truly remarkable. It's a weird feeling, because it's been one year. But yeah, Brown is the dude.
He got it done.