Mike Brown Reunites with Familiar Faces as Knicks Coaching Staff Takes Shape
After assembling a strong coaching staff with the Sacramento Kings, Mike Brown is now looking to recreate that success in New York. As he begins to build his first staff with the Knicks, familiar faces are joining him in the Big Apple.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Knicks are set to hire Charles Allen, a former colleague of Brown’s during his stint with the Kings. Additionally, Riccardo Fois, another former Sacramento staffer, is also expected to be added, a move initially reported by Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Scotto reported:
“The New York Knicks are expected to add Charles Allen to their coaching staff… Brown is also expected to add Riccardo Fois, whom he worked with in Sacramento.”
Allen worked under Brown in Sacramento, starting as the head video coordinator when Brown took over in 2022. Before joining the Kings, Allen held a similar role with the Utah Jazz.
Their time together in Sacramento was marked by a breakout 48-win season that ended the Kings’ long playoff drought and earned Brown unanimous NBA Coach of the Year honors. Following that campaign, Allen transitioned into a dual role on the bench as a special assistant to the head coach and player development coach.
Allen’s journey to the NBA began with two years of college basketball at Dallas Baptist University, followed by a position in the University of Houston’s analytics department.
Meanwhile, the Knicks’ coaching reshuffle continued on Friday. Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, multiple assistants from Tom Thibodeau’s previous staff, including Dice Yoshimoto, will not be retained. Scotto also noted that Nick Thibodeau, Tom’s nephew, is departing the team’s video operations unit.
As Mike Brown continues to finalize his team, it’s clear he’s leaning on trusted allies from past success to help usher in a new era for the Knicks.