How Mike Brown led the Knicks to an NBA championship

Few coaches in recent years have stepped into a new head coaching job under as much scrutiny – and, at times, outright skepticism – as Mike Brown did last summer.

Part of that was undoubtedly due to the pressure and constant debate that comes with coaching in a naturally demanding market like New York, as well as the success Tom Thibodeau achieved during his six-year tenure.

But when you manage to turn the work done behind closed doors into an NBA title, that mountain of preseason criticism inevitably comes crashing down. And now Mike Brown can enjoy the first championship of his career as a head coach, perhaps with even greater satisfaction than some of his peers.

Especially because the results of his biggest gambles are there for everyone to see.

Unwavering trust in Landry Shamet

After two opening games in which he was a game-changer, consistently punishing every bit of space left by San Antonio’s perimeter defense, followed by a forgettable Game 3 that included five turnovers, Mike Brown could have easily thanked Landry Shamet and been satisfied with the contribution he had already provided throughout the postseason run.

Even with a less talented bench than San Antonio’s, alternatives were available. He could have leaned more heavily on Mikal Bridges or increased Jordan Clarkson’s role.

That wasn’t the path he chose. Once again playing more than 20 minutes in Game 4, the former Clipper continued to struggle before ultimately delivering when it mattered most in the decisive Game 5. During a brief stretch in the fourth quarter, he scored five straight points that proved crucial in preventing the Spurs from extending their lead into double digits.

The defensive structure

The four tightly contested finishes from Game 2 onward perfectly illustrated the trust Mike Brown placed in his role players. His willingness to keep Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench for key defensive possessions late in games produced tangible results.

Looking again at Game 5, the offensive rebound pulled down by Mitchell Robinson over Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama following Josh Hart’s missed free throw was a play made possible by that very courage. Similar strategies are not uncommon among NBA coaches, but using them with so much at stake is far from a given.

The impact of Josh Hart

Stephon Castle was clearly the biggest disappointment for the Spurs compared to his previous series against Oklahoma City. Repeated struggles, questionable decisions, and shooting percentages that plummeted to 29% across the four losses cannot simply be attributed to his youth and inexperience.

Mike Brown’s decision to consistently go under screens while assigning Josh Hart to shadow Castle almost exclusively proved to be another tactical masterstroke.

He could have rotated multiple perimeter defenders throughout the series – and not just in stretches of Game 5 – to disrupt San Antonio’s second offensive option. Instead, he entrusted the task to a single player, turning these NBA Finals into a nightmare for the former Rookie of the Year, who was often forced to rely on free throws to pad his stat line.

In the end, the Knicks’ championship belongs to the stars who delivered on the court, but also to a coach who never stopped believing in his own ideas. The very same ideas that were heavily criticized just a few months ago. Today, those ideas are worth a championship ring.