Brown is notorious for holding players accountable. His potential employer is betting on personality and diligence more than anything else.

Brown is being hired to replace Tom Thibodeaux, who was fired after the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. He was chosen from a pool of candidates that featured former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, New Orleans Pelicans association head coach James Borrego and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori.