Knicks Hire Billy Lange for Player Development Role

The Knicks have emphasized player development in their search for head coaches, and now, they’ve appointed Mike Brown as their leader. A key part of this strategy is bringing on veteran coach Billy Lange.

Lange, who is 53 years old, has been in coaching since 1996. He spent the past six seasons as head coach at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. His experience in the area is significant, as he previously served as an assistant at Villanova under Jay Wright, a program that includes notable players like Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.

Before taking this new position with the Knicks, Lange was responsible for player development with the Sixers from 2013 to 2019. This included overseeing various young talents, some of whom have been drafted in the last two years.

Last season, Knicks rookies had limited playing time, especially during the playoffs. After the firing of Tom Thibodeau, the team seems to be focusing more on expanding player development in their coaching approach.

Currently, the Knicks are working with an open roster, potentially attracting new talent through free agency. The injuries and rest days that occur also highlight the importance of having players ready to step up when necessary. In the last summer league, some players—like Korek—didn’t perform as expected, making the development role even more critical.

With more than 20 wins in his last two seasons at St. Joseph’s, Lange has a solid record. Notably, he played college basketball at Rowan University in South Jersey, a place not far from where Knicks executives have roots. Before taking the role with the Knicks, he’ll need to resign from his position at St. Joseph’s.

Interestingly, Lange won’t be appointed as an official assistant coach and will not occupy a bench seat. The Knicks already have a bustling assistant staff that includes Chris Jent, Brendan O’Connor, and several others.