The Knicks have made the first hire of the Mike Brown coaching era, adding player development coach Riccardo Fois, reports Fred Katz of the Athletic (via Twitter). Katz notes that Fois is currently in Las Vegas with the Knicks as they watch their summer league squad compete.
The Knicks recently missed out on one of their top choices for Brown’s coaching staff, as it was reported that Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego would be remaining in New Orleans.
Fois spent last season as an assistant coach under Brown with the Kings. Before that, he was an assistant coach at the University of Arizona, after serving as the director of player development for the Suns from 2019-2021 and director of analytics at Gonzaga. Fois also has extensive international experience, having been an assistant for the Italian national team.
Fois’ time with the Suns, which included their 2021 run to the NBA Finals, gave him a good deal of experience with Mikal Bridges, who spoke about the coach when Fois left Phoenix.
“Riccardo is one of the most hard working people I know. All he cares about is getting people better and winning,” Bridges said in a 2021 statement from the University of Arizona. “The best thing about him is he’s an even greater person. He helped me a lot with developing my game and never letting me get too comfortable. I’m going to miss my guy and I wish him the best!”
Fois’s offensive creativity and familiarity with Brown’s coaching style will be key as the Knicks attempt to build a new system with a largely incumbent roster.
Wow , really ???????
Don’t know him. Maybe I will care later.
I’m just glad. No ecstatic this won’t be a story anymore.
I trust Mike and who he likes. Lets get ready for next year……
NYK coaching staff goes 2 rows deep behind the bench (I’ll admit, they do have great seats). When an AC has “player development” in his title it suggests the back row. But this guy appears to have been a real AC for at least 1 season under Brown, so it’s a hire that makes sense. He also apparently worked with Bridges earlier in his career (maybe he can help him figure out where his 3 pt shot went).
I would think Brown is going to bring in his own guys to be his lead assistants, and I don’t think this guy is one of them. Other than guys who are under contract elsewhere, I haven’t heard any names.
Knicks SL —— need last yrs rookies to step up. Get some rotation mins. Hukporti got some good experience last yr. Cause Mitch was out. He is looking good in SL. Dadiet has looked OK, looks thicker. Kolek has not looked good. Kolek and Hukporti are the oldest. Knicks need both to make an impact this year. McCullar had a big game yesterday. 30 pts in 28 mins loss to Celtics. These 4 step up this year. Coach Brown uses them. Knicks will have a solid deep bench.
The Year of McCullar. Now, if they could only pry C Danny Wolf from the Nets…