Knicks Coach Mike Brown Stands Pat on Starting Lineup Despite Slow Starts

Brown says he's not ready to make changes despite frustration over recent first-quarter deficits

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:27am

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New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown is unhappy with his team's slow starts in recent games, but he's not ready to make changes to the starting lineup just yet. The Knicks' typical starting five of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns has struggled out of the gate, leading to large early deficits. However, Brown says he doesn't feel the need to alter the lineup at this time, though he left the door open for potential changes in the future if the issues persist.

Why it matters

The Knicks' slow starts have been a recurring problem, and Brown's reluctance to make changes could be seen as stubbornness or an unwillingness to tinker with a lineup that has found success when healthy. This raises questions about Brown's coaching philosophy and whether he's doing enough to address the team's early-game woes.

The details

In the Knicks' most recent game against the Warriors, they fell behind by 21 points in the first quarter before rallying to win 110-107. Brown said he's disappointed in the team's starts in four of the last five games, but he's not ready to make changes to the lineup. The Knicks' typical starting five has included Brunson, Bridges, Hart, Anunoby, and Towns, but injuries to Hart have forced the team to use other players like Landry Shamet as a plug-in. Bridges, in particular, has struggled and was benched in the fourth quarter of the Warriors game.

  • The Knicks have had slow starts in four of their last five games.
  • The Knicks beat the Warriors 110-107 on March 15, 2026.

The players

Mike Brown

The head coach of the New York Knicks.

Jalen Brunson

A starting guard for the New York Knicks.

Mikal Bridges

A starting forward for the New York Knicks who has struggled with his play recently.

Josh Hart

A starting forward for the New York Knicks who has been dealing with injuries.

OG Anunoby

A starting forward for the New York Knicks.

Karl-Anthony Towns

A starting center for the New York Knicks.

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What they’re saying

“Right now I don't feel the need to. But like I said, if I felt the need to, I would. I don't feel the need to right now.”

— Mike Brown, Head Coach, New York Knicks (nypost.com)

“Do I think it will probably be better for the game and the quality on the court? I think so. Do I think it will happen? Probably not because everybody is so money-hungry and money-driven. I think everybody puts that above everything else.”

— Josh Hart, Starting Forward, New York Knicks (nypost.com)

What’s next

The Knicks' next game is on March 18, 2026 against the Los Angeles Lakers. It remains to be seen if Mike Brown will make any changes to the starting lineup ahead of that matchup.

The takeaway

Mike Brown's reluctance to alter the Knicks' starting lineup despite their recent struggles highlights his coaching philosophy and raises questions about whether he's doing enough to address the team's early-game woes. The Knicks' slow starts have been a recurring issue, and Brown's unwillingness to experiment with different lineups could be seen as stubbornness or an unwillingness to tinker with a successful formula.