The New York Knicks are on the verge of completing a deal to bring Chris Jent aboard as their new associate head coach, league sources report.
A Homecoming with Familiar Faces
At 55, Chris Jent carries deep ties to the New York area, having grown up across the Hudson River in New Jersey. His NBA journey even included a brief stint with the Knicks during the 1996-97 campaign. Now he’s set to link up again with recently hired head coach Mike Brown, rekindling a partnership that worked well in Cleveland from 2006 through 2010. Interestingly, Jent remained with the Cavaliers organization even after Brown moved on to other opportunities.
Making the Move from Charlotte
Jent will be walking away from his position with the Charlotte Hornets to take on what’s expected to be the offensive coordinator role in New York. This hire comes after the Knicks made a push for Indiana Pacers assistant Mike Weinar, though he chose to stick with Rick Carlisle’s staff in Indianapolis.
Veteran Experience Across the League
With 18 seasons as an NBA assistant under his belt, Jent has logged time with quite a roster of franchises—the Cavaliers, Hornets, 76ers, Magic, Kings, Hawks, and Lakers. He picked up a championship ring with the Houston Rockets back in 1994 and boasts one of basketball’s more peculiar stat lines: 11 playoff appearances versus just 6 regular-season games as a player.
Jent also took the reins as interim head coach for Orlando during the 2004-05 season, posting a 5-13 record in that role.
Offensive Focus and Key Player Development
While Mike Brown has tapped Brendan O’Connor to handle defensive schemes, Jent will take charge of the offensive end. A big part of his mandate involves fine-tuning the chemistry between Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns—a pairing that raised some eyebrows last season. Getting these two stars to mesh seamlessly could determine whether the Knicks can make a serious run at the NBA Finals.
The coaching staff will retain several familiar faces from the Tom Thibodeau era: Jordan Brink, Rick Brunson, Mark Bryant, Maurice Cheeks, and Darren Erman all remain part of the organization’s plans.
Chris Jent celebrates after the Hornets’ 2025 Summer League Championship in Las Vegas, July 20, 2025. (NBAE via Getty Images)
