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Detroit Pistons Coach Leaves for New York Knicks

The Detroit Pistons will lose an assistant coach to the New York Knicks.
Justin Grasso|
May 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau during the second half of game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau during the second half of game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports | Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

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With the Detroit Pistons making a change at the top of the coaching staff, a shakeup with the assistants seemed inevitable. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the New York Knicks are bringing in Mark Bryant, who recently coached for the Pistons.

Back in 2004, Bryant got his start as an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks following a long playing stint. As a player, Bryant competed for the Blazers, Rockets, Suns, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavs, Spurs, Sixers, Nuggets, and the Celtics.

The former veteran entered the coaching space after his lone run with the Celtics in 2003.

Since getting his start with the Mavericks, Bryant moved on to the Orlando Magic in 2005. By 2007, he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder’s organization and put together his longest stint with an organization as an assistant coach.

In 2019, Bryant moved to the Phoenix Suns to link with Monty Williams. At the time, Williams was in charge of leading Phoenix’s rebuild, which was ready to turn things around and become championship contenders. Williams was shown the door in 2023. He became the head coach of the Pistons following the Dwane Casey era.

As a result of Williams’ move to Detroit, Bryant followed. For the 2023-2024 season, Bryant coached the Pistons through a rough 14-win season. While the organization didn’t make a coaching change right away, the revamped front office decided to part ways with Monty Williams after one year.

Detroit hired former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to take over. It’s unclear if Bickerstaff planned to keep Bryant on board, but the former first-round pick is headed to New York either way.

Bryant joins a Knicks team that notched the second seed in the Eastern Conference just one season ago. After defeating the Sixers in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, New York came up short against the Indiana Pacers in round two.

With some major changes to Tom Thibodeau’s roster, the Knicks hope to find better success in the postseason in 2025.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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