Mar 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown at press conferences at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Mar 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown at press conferences at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Long before they were sitting on opposing benches during the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs, Gregg Popovich and Mike Brown had a relationship that spanned almost thirty years.
Brown, who is currently two victories away from winning his first championship as head coach, has spoken out about the fundamental impact Popovich has had on his personal and professional life. Brown spoke before the 2026 NBA Finals and recalled those years on Popovich’s staff in San Antonio.
"He helped me tremendously," Brown said, per the New York Post. "Everybody goes through good times and bad times off the floor in their personal life. When I was here, I went through good times and bad times. He helped me tremendously with those."
Dec 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
From 2000 to 2003, Brown played for Popovich for three seasons, and in his last year, they both won a championship. Popovich became the most successful coach in NBA history after winning five titles and making 22 straight postseason appearances during his 29 seasons in charge.
During a pre-Finals press conference, Brown discussed the lessons he learned from his three seasons under Popovich from 2000 to 2003.
"The neat part about him is it's not just about the X's and O's that you learn. You learn how to connect not just the 15 or 18 players, you learn how to connect an entire city, maybe even an entire state."
New York has immediately benefited from that lesson. After being fired by Sacramento in December 2024, Brown was hired by the Knicks. In his first season, he developed a trustworthy rapport with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, leading them to the NBA Finals.
And as of right now, that relationship is showing results on basketball's biggest stage.
Knicks Take 2-0 Lead, But Wembanyama Almost Rewrote the Story
New York needs two wins to end a 53-year championship drought. The Knicks have a 2-0 series lead and a 13-game winning streak going into Madison Square Garden after a 105-104 survival act in Game 2 at Frost Bank Centre. Only the 2017 Warriors have lasted longer in a single playoff run, at 15.
Karl-Anthony Towns almost made the second half a formality. He scored 17 points in the second quarter alone, turning a 10-point deficit into a 56-52 lead at the half. With six minutes to go, New York made it 14. It was all over.
Victor Wembanyama had other ideas. He engineered a 14-0 run all by himself, tying the game at 97, then hit a and-one to put San Antonio ahead 104-102. And the Frost Bank Centre was rumbling.
Then the Spurs gave it back. Wembanyama collected a defensive rebound and launched it straight off rookie Stephon Castle’s back. Wembanyama's attempt at a buzzer fell short, Brunson drew a foul, and he made one of two free throws. New York fed off someone else's mistake.
Comment down on whether the Knicks close it out at MSG.
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Written by
Utsav Gupta
Edited by
Utsav Gupta