By Matt Audilet0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.The New York Knicks are poised for an NBA Finals matchup against the San Antonio Spurs — a matchup that features several intriguing storylines.
One storyline is head coach Mike Brown's connection to the San Antonio organization.
Brown served on the Spurs coaching staff as an assistant under Gregg Popovich from 2000-03, helping the franchise win an NBA title in 2003. Now the Knicks' leader, the veteran coach still has a great deal of reverence for his former boss.
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Popovich stepped down from his head coaching position after nearly three decades at the helm in early 2025, making way for Mitch Johnson as his successor. However, the 77-year-old coaching legend is still strongly involved as "El Jefe" behind the scenes.
Brown discussed Popovich's impact during his media availability on Sunday.
"The job that he's done, not only on the court with that team or that organization, but off the court, too, is going to be imprinted as long as the game of basketball exists," Brown said.
"His presence is very, very much felt all the time. I've got a lot of respect for the organizationhttps for a lot of different reasons," he continued. "The opportunity to work for [Popovich] ... reminds me of good times."
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Brown and the Knicks are on an 11-game winning streak heading into the NBA Finals, notching back-to-back series sweeps over the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Spurs just wrapped up a Western Conference Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a Game 7 victory on Saturday night.
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Game 1 of the NBA Finals will tipoff on June 3.
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