Chris Jent is returning to the New York Knicks as an affiliate head coach below Mike Brown. Jent, who works with the Charlotte Hornets, is now engaged on a cope with New York alongside his agent, Tyler Glass of CSE Expertise. This additionally serves as a homecoming for Jent, who performed for the Knicks within the 1996-97 season.
Charlotte Hornets assistant Chris Jent is finalizing a deal to turn into the affiliate head coach of the New York Knicks below Mike Brown, sources inform ESPN. New York and Tyler Glass of CSE Expertise negotiated phrases for Jent, who returns to Knicks the place he spent 1996-97 as a participant. pic.twitter.com/oaO1onPUpc
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The Knicks have accomplished their due diligence in looking for high-level assistants for Brown’s first 12 months. A number of candidates, together with Pablo Prigioni, Jay Triano, James Borrego, and Mike Weinar, rejected affords to affix the workers. Chris Jent was the primary candidate for the offensive coordinator, and he’s probably the most important addition to Brown’s help group.
Jent’s teaching profession spans 18 seasons throughout seven NBA groups, together with the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Hornets. His head teaching expertise consists of one season main the Bakersfield Jam within the NBA D-League throughout 2015-16, practically a decade after being interim head coach for the Orlando Magic for 18 video games following Johnny Davis’ midseason departure. Final month, Jent led the Hornets’ Summer season League staff to a championship in Las Vegas.
The 55-year-old coach has a historical past with Brown, having been on his workers through the 2009-10 season in Cleveland. That tenure additionally included a visit to the 2007 NBA Finals, the place Jent labored as LeBron James’ private capturing coach. His offensive experience could possibly be essential for a Knicks roster led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities, which confronted criticism final season for its on-court chemistry.
Along with Jent, Brown’s first Knicks teaching workers will mix new hires with holdovers from the Tom Thibodeau period. Brendan O’Connor, a longtime assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers, will oversee the protection. With Jent working the offense, the Knicks purpose to have a balanced, skilled teaching group able to deal with a season with excessive expectations.