Knicks’ Surprising Move: Why Chris Jent’s New Role Could Change Everything Under Mike Brown

Jent, fresh off winning the NBA Summer League championship by coaching the Hornets to a 6-0 record, joins Brown’s staff after one season as an assistant with Charles Lee in Charlotte. He has been an NBA assistant coach with eight teams over 17 seasons, mixing in stints as a head coach for the D-League’s Bakersfield Jam and an assistant with Ohio State, his alma mater.

AdvertisementPreviously, Brown pursued New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego for his No. 1 assistant, but the Pelicans would not let him out of his contract to make a lateral move. Brown’s next choice was Indiana Pacers assistant Mike Weinar, but he stayed on Rick Carlisle’s staff and kept his family in Indianapolis.Advertisement

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AdvertisementFollowing a four-year playing career with the Buckeyes, Jent played in the CBA and in Italy, Spain and Greece, in addition to brief stops with the Houston Rockets and Knicks.