The New York Knicks have been at the center of a whirlwind of activity this summer, with coaching decisions, player signings, and free agency rumors all swirling as the NBA regular season draws closer. From high-profile interviews for the head coaching position to the latest on rookie prospects and free agent speculation, the Knicks have kept fans and analysts alike on their toes. It’s been anything but a quiet offseason in Manhattan.
One of the most talked-about stories has been the Knicks’ search for a new head coach, a process that culminated in the hiring of Mike Brown in early July 2025. Yet, what truly captured the imagination of basketball fans was the revelation that Dawn Staley, the legendary South Carolina women’s coach and Hall of Famer, was seriously in the running for the position. Staley, who has led the Gamecocks to three national championships and is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, confirmed on August 27 that she would have accepted the Knicks’ offer if it had come her way.
“I would have had to do it. Not just for me. For women. To break [that door] open,” Staley stated on the "Post Moves" podcast, speaking with WNBA star Aliyah Boston and former great Candace Parker. She added, “I would have had to. It’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philly. But it’s the freaking New York Knicks.” Her words echoed the sentiment of many who saw her candidacy as a potential milestone for women in professional sports, especially in the NBA, where no woman has yet been hired as a full-time head coach.
Staley detailed her interview experience, explaining how she felt well-prepared and confident in her responses to the Knicks’ brass. However, she also wondered if her forthrightness about the implications of hiring the NBA’s first full-time female head coach might have cost her the job. “How, if you hired me as the first female [head] coach in the NBA, would it impact your daily job? Because it would,” she recalled asking the Knicks’ decision-makers. “You’re going to be asked questions that you don’t have to answer if you’re a male coach. There’s going to be the media and all this other stuff that you have to deal with that you didn’t have to deal with and don’t have to deal with when you hire a male. That got them to thinking, ‘Maybe she’s right.’ I felt the energy change after that. So, I shot myself in the foot by ... being inquisitive and asking all those darn questions.”
In addition to Staley, the Knicks’ coaching search included interviews with former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego, and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori. Ultimately, the team opted for Mike Brown, who had previously led the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers. Brown’s appointment marked a return to the NBA head coaching ranks and a new chapter for the Knicks, but Staley’s candidacy will likely be remembered as a pivotal moment in the ongoing conversation about gender and leadership in professional sports.
While the coaching saga played out, the Knicks were also making waves on the player front, particularly with the arrival of rookie Mohamed Diawara. On August 26, Diawara attended his first New York Mets game at Citi Field, accompanied by fellow Knicks rookie Kevin McCullar Jr. The Mets, facing off against the Philadelphia Phillies, pulled out a thrilling 6-5 victory thanks to a walk-off single by Brandon Nimmo in the ninth inning. The win improved the Mets’ record to 6-2 against their NL East rivals this season and brought them within five games of the division-leading Phillies.
Diawara’s presence at Citi Field was more than just a casual outing—it marked another step in his integration into the New York sports scene. The 6-foot-8 French forward, selected 51st overall after a season with Cholet Basket in France’s LNB Pro A, has already shown flashes of promise. In 49 games last season, he averaged 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 43.9% shooting, notching double figures 13 times and capping his campaign with a season-high 14 points and seven rebounds on May 28.
Since joining the Knicks, Diawara has participated in the NBA Summer League, where he averaged seven points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals over four games, shooting 40% from the field. His best performance came on July 19, when he tallied nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Although Diawara remains unsigned as of late August, he is reportedly a strong candidate for one of the Knicks’ three open two-way contracts. With his high-level European experience and versatility, there’s growing anticipation that he could eventually carve out a role in the Knicks’ rotation.
The summer has also been rife with speculation regarding the Knicks’ pursuit of top free agents, none bigger than Ben Simmons. The former No. 1 overall pick, who split the 2024-25 season between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, remains unsigned with the NBA’s regular season set to tip off on October 21. Early in the offseason, the Knicks were widely rumored to be the frontrunners for Simmons’ signature, with the Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings also lurking as potential destinations.
However, recent developments have cast doubt on the likelihood of Simmons donning a Knicks jersey. On August 19, NBA insider Ian Begley addressed the situation on SNY’s "The Putback" show, responding to fan questions about the Knicks’ offseason moves. “Logic tells me to take the field because there are so many different variables here for the Knicks,” Begley explained. “They have interest; other teams have interest. And they’ve got one spot, essentially, unless they make a trade to open up another roster spot. So, it seems to me, you’re looking at Landry Shamet or a Ben Simmons-type player. There’s real interest on both ends. Are the Knicks the favorite? I don’t think so; I don’t know how you would calculate that.”
Simmons, once hailed as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, has faced his share of adversity in recent years. After missing his rookie season due to a fractured metatarsal, he bounced back to win Rookie of the Year and earn three All-Star selections. But injuries and a protracted contract holdout have hampered his progress, leaving his future uncertain as he seeks a fresh start—whether in New York or elsewhere.
With the regular season fast approaching, the Knicks’ roster remains in flux. The team’s front office faces crucial decisions about how to fill remaining spots, whether to pursue a marquee free agent like Simmons, and which young players to develop. The drama surrounding the coaching search, the emergence of promising rookies, and the ongoing free agency rumors have all contributed to a sense of anticipation—and perhaps a little anxiety—among the Knicks faithful.
As the calendar inches closer to opening night, fans will be watching closely to see how these storylines unfold. Will Mohamed Diawara secure a spot and become a breakout contributor? Could Ben Simmons still find his way to Madison Square Garden? And will Dawn Staley’s bold interview inspire future breakthroughs for women in the NBA coaching ranks? For now, the only certainty is that the Knicks’ offseason has been anything but ordinary, and the next chapter is just around the corner.
