Knicks Coach Mike Brown's Long Journey to the Top

Celebrating 10 years of Andscape

Fired four times as an NBA head coach, Brown stayed resilient and received constant family support on odyssey to first title

SAN ANTONIO — The long-awaited championship stage was set for the New York Knicks on Saturday night. A crying Tracy Morgan, a gleeful Spike Lee and other celebrity Knicks fans celebrated with the players. They were eager to see the NBA championship trophy that had eluded the Knicks for 53 years.

In the midst of the Knicks’

The Knicks clinched the NBA title by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. San Antonio also happens to be the home of Brown’

Anthony Brown, a former NFL offensive lineman, said about 20 family members, including Mike Brown’s wife, Rochelle Ledesma, and her two children, were all in attendance. Half joking, half serious, Mike Brown said before the NBA Finals that he would save money by playing against the Spurs, since his family wouldn’t have to travel.

Brown, 56, was appreciative of his family’s presence and support.

With all due respect to his sons, wife, parents and other family members, the love of Mike Brown’s life is his grandson, Iverson Brown. It’s not uncommon for the Knicks head coach to build his schedule around spending time with Iverson, Elijah’s son. After winning the NBA championship, Brown held his 3-year-old grandson in his arms during the trophy presentation and during an ESPN interview with host Scott Van Pelt.

Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape.