Ex-Warriors Assistants Mike Brown and Kenny Atkinson to Face Off in Knicks-Cavaliers Series
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New York — Four years after sharing a championship bench with the Golden State Warriors, Mike Brown and Kenny Atkinson will square off as opposing head coaches when the New York Knicks meet the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Both coaches were part of Steve Kerr’s staff during the Warriors’ title run four seasons ago. Brown, then the lead assistant, and Atkinson, serving on the same staff, helped guide Golden State to the NBA crown before departing for their own head-coaching opportunities.
The upcoming Knicks–Cavaliers matchup marks the first postseason meeting between the two since that championship season. Brown now directs the Cavaliers, while Atkinson steers the Knicks, setting the stage for a coaching duel rooted in their shared history in the Bay Area.
Game dates and venues for the best-of-seven series were not announced at press time, but both clubs confirmed that preparations are underway. Players on each roster have cited familiarity with their coaches’ Warriors playbook as a subplot to the series.
Brown previously coached Cleveland from 2005-10 and again in 2013-14 before returning this season. Atkinson, a former head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, accepted the Knicks job last summer after several years as a top assistant around the league.
The reunion adds another storyline to a series already featuring two of the league’s largest media markets. Tip-off for Game 1 is expected early next week.
Source: New York Post
