For the first time since 1999, the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals, and as fate would have it, they’ll be playing the same team that they played that year – the San Antonio Spurs.
Not long afterward, the Spurs hired a young Mike Brown to serve on their coaching staff alongside now-former head coach Gregg Popovich, and the two helped the Spurs win another NBA title in 2003. Since then, Brown has been with several organizations and took over as head coach of the Knicks last offseason.
Before Game 1 of the NBA Finals against his former club, Brown was asked about the influence that Popovich had on his career, and he answered that the legendary 77-year-old former head coach had a tremendous effect on him both professionally and personally.
“There’s a ton on the court, there’s a ton off the court,” Brown said via Spurs Nation on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He was very influential in my life at the time, not just professionally but personally as well. The biggest thing is just to stay the course, keep trying to grow, and keep trying to learn. And make sure you try and keep everybody – not just the 15 or 18 players, but however many players you have and everybody in the organization, in and around the city, trying to keep them as connected as possible.”
Knicks coach Mike Brown, on Gregg Popovich’s influence from his time as a Spurs assistant: “There’s a ton on the court. There’s a ton off the court. … The biggest thing is just to stay the course, keep trying to grow and keep trying to learn.” pic.twitter.com/zY9EGTF7xp
— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) June 2, 2026
During his first season as Knicks head coach, Brown led the club to a 53-29 record, good for third overall in the Eastern Conference.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Spurs and Knicks will begin on Wednesday from San Antonio.
The post Mike Brown gives Spurs’ Gregg Popovich credit for influencing his career appeared first on ClutchPoints.
