AleksandarN
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http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2117498
NEW YORK - Larry Brown's "dream job" looks like it will become a reality.
New York Newsday reported on its website Tuesday night that the nomadic Brown will return to his roots and become the new coach of the Knicks.
According to the report, Brown has yet to complete negotiations on what is expected to to be a five-year contract worth $50 million to $60 million. However, the report said the Knicks could call a news conference as early as Wednesday.
Brown had met with Knicks coach Herb Williams and team president Isiah Thomas on Monday night.
The hiring would come a little more than a week after Brown and the Detroit Pistons parted ways. Brown and his agent negotiated a settlement on the remaining three years of his five-year contract.
In two years in Detroit, Brown guided the Pistons to the 2004 title and within one quarter of a repeat championship.
A New York native, Brown once described the Knicks as his "dream job." Brown grew up idolizing Red Holzman, who guided the Knicks to their last NBA title in 1973.
Brown, who turns 65 next month, would be taking on his coveted job with health questions hovering over him.
Brown underwent hip surgery in November, returned later that month but had to take more time away from the team when he developed serious bladder complications. After the season, Brown checked into the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Throughout his coaching career, Brown has done two things - make teams better and leave unexpectedly.
Two years ago, he left the Philadelphia 76ers to join the Pistons, who had fired coach Rick Carlisle less than a week earlier. In 1983, he was coaching the New Jersey Nets while negotiating to become the coach at Kansas University.
Brown is 987-741 as an NBA coach, guiding all seven teams to the playoffs. He was the Coach of the Year in 2001 when he guided the 76ers to the NBA Finals and won his first title in 2004 when the Pistons stunned the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, becoming the only coach to win the NBA and NCAA crown.
As a college coach, Brown is 177-61. He directed UCLA to the 1980 NCAA title game and Kansas to the 1988 championship. Both programs went on probation following his departure.
Brown's coaching career dates to 1972 in the ABA, where he was 229-107.
In New York, Brown again would undertake a rebuilding project after the Knicks went just 33-49 last season and missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four campaigns.
Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury and forward Tim Thomas both have experience with Brown. Marbury struggled playing for Brown on the 2004 Olympic team and Thomas began his career under Brown in Philadelphia, but was traded to Milwaukee midway through his second season.
Before leaving the Pistons, Brown's name also was linked to other jobs.
In February, Brown denied reports that he was interested in replacing Rudy Tomjanovich as coach of the Lakers. In May, he repeatedly deflected questions regarding an ESPN.com report that he was leaving the Pistons to become president of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It is unclear what role Williams would take on with the Knicks. His coaching contract expires Sunday, but his assistant deal has another year remaining.
NEW YORK - Larry Brown's "dream job" looks like it will become a reality.
New York Newsday reported on its website Tuesday night that the nomadic Brown will return to his roots and become the new coach of the Knicks.
According to the report, Brown has yet to complete negotiations on what is expected to to be a five-year contract worth $50 million to $60 million. However, the report said the Knicks could call a news conference as early as Wednesday.
Brown had met with Knicks coach Herb Williams and team president Isiah Thomas on Monday night.
The hiring would come a little more than a week after Brown and the Detroit Pistons parted ways. Brown and his agent negotiated a settlement on the remaining three years of his five-year contract.
In two years in Detroit, Brown guided the Pistons to the 2004 title and within one quarter of a repeat championship.
A New York native, Brown once described the Knicks as his "dream job." Brown grew up idolizing Red Holzman, who guided the Knicks to their last NBA title in 1973.
Brown, who turns 65 next month, would be taking on his coveted job with health questions hovering over him.
Brown underwent hip surgery in November, returned later that month but had to take more time away from the team when he developed serious bladder complications. After the season, Brown checked into the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Throughout his coaching career, Brown has done two things - make teams better and leave unexpectedly.
Two years ago, he left the Philadelphia 76ers to join the Pistons, who had fired coach Rick Carlisle less than a week earlier. In 1983, he was coaching the New Jersey Nets while negotiating to become the coach at Kansas University.
Brown is 987-741 as an NBA coach, guiding all seven teams to the playoffs. He was the Coach of the Year in 2001 when he guided the 76ers to the NBA Finals and won his first title in 2004 when the Pistons stunned the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, becoming the only coach to win the NBA and NCAA crown.
As a college coach, Brown is 177-61. He directed UCLA to the 1980 NCAA title game and Kansas to the 1988 championship. Both programs went on probation following his departure.
Brown's coaching career dates to 1972 in the ABA, where he was 229-107.
In New York, Brown again would undertake a rebuilding project after the Knicks went just 33-49 last season and missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four campaigns.
Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury and forward Tim Thomas both have experience with Brown. Marbury struggled playing for Brown on the 2004 Olympic team and Thomas began his career under Brown in Philadelphia, but was traded to Milwaukee midway through his second season.
Before leaving the Pistons, Brown's name also was linked to other jobs.
In February, Brown denied reports that he was interested in replacing Rudy Tomjanovich as coach of the Lakers. In May, he repeatedly deflected questions regarding an ESPN.com report that he was leaving the Pistons to become president of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It is unclear what role Williams would take on with the Knicks. His coaching contract expires Sunday, but his assistant deal has another year remaining.
