Knicks set to interview Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown as head coach search kicks into gear
The Knicks are moving on to coaching candidates they don’t require permission to interview from their existing teams.After being rebuffed in efforts to speak with current Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and multiple other potential targets, the Knicks will interview former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Kings coach Mike Brown, a source confirmed Friday night to The Post.Those meetings are expected to take place at some point next week, The Athletic reported.Team president Leon Rose’s coaching search has mostly stalled since Tom Thibodeau was fired on June 3, three days after the Knicks were knocked out in six games by the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.In addition to Kidd, the Knicks also were denied in their requests to speak with Houston’s Ime Udoka, Minnesota’s Chris Finch, Atlanta’s Quin Snyder and Chicago’s Billy Donovan, according to various reports.Many believe the Knicks plan to circle back eventually on the 52-year-old Kidd, who has two years remaining on his contract, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Friday that the Mavericks “are not interested in further negotiations at all.
‘Don’t even call back,’ is the message that they wanted out there.”A source told The Post last week that the Knicks and the Hall of Fame point guard had “mutual intrigue” in a potential move.Former Denver coach Mike Malone, who won an NBA title with the Nuggets in 2023, is also available after getting fired late in the regular season.The Post also has reported that former Villanova coach Jay Wright is not interested in the position despite the presence of former Wildcat stars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges on the roster.The 40-year-old Jenkins posted a 250-214 mark during six seasons in Memphis, but the Grizzlies only won one playoff series over that span.He was canned with nine games remaining in the regular season, and the Grizzlies were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Thunder after advancing through the pl...