During his first run as a head coach, Brown took the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2006-07, only to get swept by Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs. Two seasons later, Brown guided the Cavs to a franchise-record 66 wins and a spot in the Eastern Conference finals, earning him his first Coach of the Year Award.

The New York Knicks liked Mike Brown's experience with championship teams, after he worked for four of them. That sounds good to a franchise that's been stuck on two titles for more than 50 years but believes its time to win another is now.

The New York Knicks have hired Mike Brown as their next head coach, they announced Monday. The decision marks the end of a lengthy process that followed New York's surprising decision to fire former Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau following a six-game loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.