J.R.
7-28-05, 10:40 PM
Knicks make Brown richest coach in US sports history
Thu Jul 28, 1:31 PM ET
NEW YORK (AFP) - Larry Brown was confirmed as the new coach of the New York Knicks, with a reported five-year deal that makes him the highest-paid coach in North American professional sports history.
Brown's new National Basketball Association deal, according to reports in several newspapers here, is worth between 50 million and 60 million dollars.
Much-traveled Brown, a New York native who turns 65 next month, came home to obtain what he once called his "dream job", having idolized the Knicks since their most recent NBA championship squad back in 1973.
Brown vowed that this, his 11th coaching career stop and record eighth different NBA club to coach, will be his final head coaching job.
"I think I say that everywhere I have been," Brown said. "I know this will be my last stop. Basketball started for me in this city. I want to be here when it's finally time for me to stop."
Brown, whose 987 NBA coaching triumphs rank fourth on the all-time list, guided the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA crown and within a game of repeating the feat before a seventh-game loss to San Antonio in last month's NBA Finals.
But the Pistons fired Brown after a settlement of the final three years of his contract was hammered out, with Brown reportedly unable to ensure he would be fit to coach every game for Detroit next season.
Brown underwent hip surgery in November, returned briefly but missed a total of 17 games last season after developing a serious bladder ailment.
While the contract does touch upon Brown's health issues, the Knicks proved more willing than the Pistons to make allowances for the concerns in order to have Brown at the helm.
Isiah Thomas, the Knicks president of basketball operations and a former Pistons star in their 1990 and 1991 championship era, began pursuing Brown once it was clear he would not be back with the Pistons.
"This is a great day for the New York Knicks and our fans," Thomas said. "Larry Brown is not just one of the best coaches in the NBA, but in its history."
Via: Yahoo! Sports (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050728/sp_afp/basketnbaknicksbrown).
Finally! It's what the Knicks have so desperately needed since Jeff Van Gundy.
And thus paving the way for the Knicks to win 50 to 55 games and run away with their division. :nod:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/knicks-med.gif
:thumb:
Thu Jul 28, 1:31 PM ET
NEW YORK (AFP) - Larry Brown was confirmed as the new coach of the New York Knicks, with a reported five-year deal that makes him the highest-paid coach in North American professional sports history.
Brown's new National Basketball Association deal, according to reports in several newspapers here, is worth between 50 million and 60 million dollars.
Much-traveled Brown, a New York native who turns 65 next month, came home to obtain what he once called his "dream job", having idolized the Knicks since their most recent NBA championship squad back in 1973.
Brown vowed that this, his 11th coaching career stop and record eighth different NBA club to coach, will be his final head coaching job.
"I think I say that everywhere I have been," Brown said. "I know this will be my last stop. Basketball started for me in this city. I want to be here when it's finally time for me to stop."
Brown, whose 987 NBA coaching triumphs rank fourth on the all-time list, guided the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA crown and within a game of repeating the feat before a seventh-game loss to San Antonio in last month's NBA Finals.
But the Pistons fired Brown after a settlement of the final three years of his contract was hammered out, with Brown reportedly unable to ensure he would be fit to coach every game for Detroit next season.
Brown underwent hip surgery in November, returned briefly but missed a total of 17 games last season after developing a serious bladder ailment.
While the contract does touch upon Brown's health issues, the Knicks proved more willing than the Pistons to make allowances for the concerns in order to have Brown at the helm.
Isiah Thomas, the Knicks president of basketball operations and a former Pistons star in their 1990 and 1991 championship era, began pursuing Brown once it was clear he would not be back with the Pistons.
"This is a great day for the New York Knicks and our fans," Thomas said. "Larry Brown is not just one of the best coaches in the NBA, but in its history."
Via: Yahoo! Sports (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050728/sp_afp/basketnbaknicksbrown).
Finally! It's what the Knicks have so desperately needed since Jeff Van Gundy.
And thus paving the way for the Knicks to win 50 to 55 games and run away with their division. :nod:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/knicks-med.gif
:thumb: