Last stop: Madison Square Garden.
That’s the way it was for Larry Brown as a youngster taking the subway to Knicks games, and that’s the way he hopes it will be in his newest job.
Brown was formally introduced Thursday as coach of the New York Knicks, the team he grew up cheering and the franchise he has helped make significant again.
“I think I say that everywhere I’ve been,” Brown said with a laugh. “I know this will be my last stop. Basketball started for me in this city, and I want to be here when it’s finally time for me to stop.”
The Knicks pulled out all the stops for Brown’s introductory news conference, flashing “Welcome Back, Larry” on the marquee outside the arena, putting together a clip of Brown’s career highlights – even finding footage of him sinking a two-handed set shot – and serving cheesecake and New York-style overstuffed sandwiches to a crowd of media members that numbered in the hundreds.
Brown’s wife and children sat in the front row near Herb Williams, who will join Brown’s staff as an assistant coach and who Brown said would run the team in the event his health problems force him to miss any time.
Brown’s contract was believed to be for four years with a salary of at least $8 million annually. Had Brown turned down the job, the Knicks would have given it to Williams after he guided the team over the final 43 games last season.
“My greatest hope is that we’re going to be good for a long time, and (Williams) is going to be the next coach of the New York Knicks,” Brown said.
His face tanned after more than a week of playing golf near his summer home, his appearance perfect in a dark suit, light blue shirt and gray tie, Brown called himself “a young 64” as he soaked up the spotlight, waxed nostalgic and tried to keep expectations in line with reality.
The Knicks are coming off a 33-win season in which they missed the playoffs for the third time in four years, and team president Isiah Thomas has placed the team in a long-term rebuilding mode that will make it difficult for Brown to perform the type of quick turnaround he has become known for.
Brown said he would emphasize defense, rebounding and unselfishness from the first day of training camp, and he predicted he’ll drive Thomas “crazy” with his requests for personnel changes as his tenure unfolds.
“It’s going to be ugly early, I can promise you that. That’s been my m.o., but it’s going to get better,” Brown said.
Thomas will retain final say on personnel moves, but Brown will wield all the influence regarding who plays, how much they play and whether those players will remain in New York long-term.
“I don’t think by any means, from talking to Isiah, that this is a finished product,” Brown said. “This is a work in progress.”
The Knicks will be Brown’s eighth NBA coaching job in a career (not including college jobs at Kansas and UCLA) that has taken him to Detroit, Philadelphia, Indiana, Los Angeles, San Antonio, New Jersey and Denver.
Trail Blazers: Free-agent guard Juan Dixon reportedly has agreed to a three-year deal worth $8 million.
The contract cannot be formally announced by the team until the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement is ratified, which is expected early next week.
Dixon averaged 8.2 points and 1.6 assists in three seasons with the Washington Wizards.
Pistons: Detroit exercised its option on Darko Milicic, keeping the center under contract for the next two seasons.
Pistons president Joe Dumars drafted Milicic, 20, with the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, behind LeBron James and ahead of players who have developed much more rapidly, including Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Milicic, a native of Serbia-Montenegro, has averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds.
