Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesIf the New York Knicks disappoint in the NBA Playoffs and are one-and-done with head coach Mike Brown, his likely replacement just became available.Despite being on the job for less than a year, Brown is feeling intense pressure in his first postseason as head coach of the Knicks. he was hired to take the team further than Tom Thibodeau could. However, they only won two more games than last year, and they frustrated fans more during the 2025-26 season than in the past few.Going into the campaign, most Knicks pundits felt the team had to at least reach the NBA Finals for coaches, executives, and players to keep their jobs.
While firing a coach after one season is a hasty move, there have been questions about the team’s chemistry and Brown not adjusting his system to get the most out of All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.But who could the team bring in with experience after failing to poach coaches they liked from rival teams last summer? Well, one of those coaches they had an interest in a year ago just became available. On Tuesday, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan officially “stepped down” from his role with the organization.
Billy Donovan would be top Mike Brown replacement option for New York KnicksRumors swirled last year that the Knicks’ front office looked into possibly getting Jason Kidd from the Dallas Mavericks and Ime Udoka from the Houston Rockets. The Athletic’s Mike Puleo noted today that before Donovan got an extension last year, “the New York Knicks reportedly pursued Donovan for their coaching vacancy, but the Bulls declined the Knicks’ interview request, per multiple reports.”Donovan ended his Bulls tenure with a 226-256 record and just one playoff trip in six seasons. Underwhelming, no doubt.
However, as the head coach of Florida, he won two national championships, and when he took the same job with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he went 243-157 and made the playoffs in all five seasons he was there.What also makes the 60-year-old an intriguing option for the Knicks is that he is a native of Rockville Centre, NY. A son of the state with a strong coaching resume would make him one of the strongest replacement options on the market for Brown if the team disappoints this spring.Related Headlines5 Chicago Bulls Replacements After Donovan Quits, Including the Return of ThibodeauGolden State Warriors Rumor Reveals Top Target This Summer, But There’s a ProblemNBA Expert’s BOLD Bam Adebayo to Charlotte Hornets Trade Idea Is a Perfect Win-Win