Matt Barnes Doubts Mike Brown’s Coaching for Knicks

Not everyone is on board with the Mike Brown era for the New York Knicks.

Former NBA champion Matt Barnes recently shared his skepticism about the Knicks’ new head coach on the Straight Game Podcast, stating that Brown might be “too nice” to lead the team to a championship.

When asked if Brown could guide the franchise to success after taking over from Tom Thibodeau this summer, Barnes simply replied, “no.”

“Mike is a great guy, but I don’t see him as a leading man,” the 45-year-old commented. “These days, players are making a lot of money, and to earn their respect, you can’t just be nice all the time. Mike’s a calm guy, which I think is admirable, but sometimes you need to assert yourself and say, ‘This is my team.’

After a successful stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, including an NBA Finals appearance in 2007, Brown served as head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2011 to 2013.

Barnes played under Brown during the 2011-2012 season, and despite the team’s solid record of 41-25, he doesn’t have fond memories of that year.

“Kobe [Bryant] always said they were inconsistent, and I saw that too,” he reflected.

Brown was ultimately let go just five games into the following season after a poor start with a roster that included Bryant, Steve Nash, and Dwight Howard.

After his time in Los Angeles, Brown became an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors in 2016, where he won three championships under Steve Kerr. Barnes noted that Brown gained significant insight from Kerr, which contributed to ending the Sacramento Kings’ lengthy playoff drought in his first season as their head coach.

However, things took a turn when Brown reportedly lost the locker room and was let go midway through the 2024-25 season.

Barnes emphasized that some coaches might be better suited as second-in-command. “Going into the New York media market is tough; they’ll scrutinize every little mistake,” he remarked. “Mike’s a great person, but I worry this situation may not work out.”

Brown’s challenge will be to elevate the Knicks after a disappointing Eastern Conference Finals exit last season. If he succeeds, it could validate his coaching capabilities.

The Knicks will kick off their season this Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.