Here are four key differences the 55-year-old Brown brings that Rose, team owner Jim Dolan and the club's legion of fans are hoping can guide New York back to the promised land after 52 years of waiting.

In 2022, Mike Brown took over a team that had won 30 games the previous season with an offense that ranked No. 24 in the NBA. When training camp began, the Sacramento Kings ' new coach told them that they'd have five offensive staples: pace, floor spacing, quick decisions, paint touches and ball reversals.

Through their free-agency activity so far and the expected hiring of Mike Brown to be their next head coach, the New York Knicks have made one thing unassailably clear: They are all-in on juicing their offense—potential collateral damage on defense be absolutely damned.