The Knicks are adding a Hall of Fame player and a veteran coach.
Mo Cheeks will join Tom Thibodeau’s staff as an assistant, league sources confirmed Thursday.
Known for his professionalism, the 67-year-old played for the Bulls under head coach Billy Donovan for the past four seasons.
He previously served as head coach with the Blazers, Sixers and Pistons.
Thibodeau’s staff currently includes associate head coach Johnny Bryant and assistants Rick Brunson, Darren Ahman, Andy Greer and Osella Harrington.
Cheeks, who began his NBA career as an assistant coach in 1994, is by far the most experienced coach in the league.
He was also on the same Sixers staff as Thibodeau in the mid-1990s.
During his playing career, Cheeks was a four-time All-Star point guard and an NBA champion, but most of his success came during his 11-year tenure with Philadelphia.
He played two seasons with the Knicks in the early ’90s after being acquired in the Rod Strickland trade, helping New York upset the Celtics in the 1990 first round.
According to NBC Chicago, Cheeks was expected to take on a smaller, advisory role with the Bulls after a disappointing season last year.
Rather, he is coming to New York because “professional and personal opportunities prevailed,” the report said.
Cheeks also has a longstanding relationship with Knicks executive William Wesley, a Philadelphia native.
The Knicks’ staff has undergone several changes since Thibodeau took over.
Mike Woodson and Kenny Payne both left the team for opportunities in the NCAAs.
Bryant recently interviewed for the Cavs’ coaching vacancy.
