Report: Knicks shift focus to Brown, Jenkins after rejections

The New York Knicks are increasing their focus on Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins after they were reportedly denied permission to speak with five different employed head coaches, sources told The Athletic's Sam Amick.

New York plans to finalize its shortlist of head coaching candidates in the coming days, adds Amick.

Brown apparently left a very strong impression on the Knicks' brass when he interviewed for the position in 2020, Amick reports.

The 55-year-old is coming off a respectable 107-88 tenure with the Sacramento Kings. He won his second Coach of the Year Award during his first campaign in Sacramento after guiding the franchise to its first playoff berth in 16 seasons.

Brown previously spent six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers over two stints and parts of two campaigns in charge of the Los Angeles Lakers. The 55-year-old has also been an assistant for Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr.

Meanwhile, Jenkins was shockingly dismissed by the Memphis Grizzlies last March with just nine games left in the regular season.

Jenkins posted a 250-214 record across six seasons, including three consecutive playoff appearances. The Grizzlies fell in six contests to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2022 NBA playoffs.

Jenkins was on Mike Budenholzer's coaching staff for six campaigns before earning his first lead gig with Memphis in 2019.

New York moved on from Tom Thibodeau last week after the 67-year-old led the club to its first East final in 25 years.