Mike Brown Unfazed By Knicks Rumor

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown won't speak of the Greek Freak.

Brown's Knicks took another turn at the NBA rumor mill this week, as ESPN's Shams Charania and SNY's Ian Begley reported on Giannis Antetokounmpo's long-rumored interest in metropolitan collaboration. But the first-year Knicks boss was quick to remind observers that there's plenty to get excited about even without Antetokounmpo, who remains stationed with the Milwaukee Bucks for a 13th season for the time being.

"I don't get into that stuff. We're in a great spot right now," Brown said when asked about the Antetokounmpo gossip, per Begley. "Our guys have been playing their tails off. They're starting to pick what we're doing defensively. Offensively, we're getting a little bit more comfortable, especially trying to play fast. That's what I'm concentrating on now. Like I said, I love our guys and I think they're starting to enjoy playing the way we're trying to play on both ends."

Though their chase for the two-time MVP has proven futile—so far—the Knicks have assembled a formidable squad that many believe is capable of winning the Eastern Conference. New York has lingered in the Antetokounmpo conversation for quite some time but has assembled one of the best top-to-bottom squads in the Association.

The emergence of Dallas import Jalen Brunson, of course, speaks for itself but the Knicks stole the show in the late stages of last offseason by adding towering sharpshooter Karl-Anthony Towns through a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Whereas the Knicks were able to keep the core together, Milwaukee was forced to make some monumental changes to appease Antetokounmpo's championship desires, acquiring recurring playoff foe Myles Turner on a nine-figure deal while bidding farewell to co-stars Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez.

But even the bottom of the roster has garnered headlines: this training camp, for example, features the curious case of Malcolm Brogdon, the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year Award winner that reportedly turned down other offers to fight for a rotational spot in Manhattan. All that and more has made the Knicks a popular pick to finish atop the Eastern Conference and maybe more, especially after they came two wins away from returning to the NBA Finals last spring.

Brown's current crop lived up to his hype in their unofficial debuts last week, as the team swept a two-game exhibition set from the Philadelphia 76ers in the latest edition of the NBA's Abu Dhabi Games at Etihad Arena.

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