Knicks adding assistant Cheeks
The Knicks are adding a Hall of Fame player and a veteran coach.
Maurice Cheeks is joining Tom Thibodeau’s staff as an assistant, league sources confirmed Thursday. The 66-year-old, renowned for his professionalism, was with the Bulls for the last four seasons under Billy Donovan. He previously served as a head coach for the Trail Blazers, Sixers and Pistons.
Thibodeau’s staff currently includes associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, plus assistants Rick Brunson, Darren Erman, Andy Greer and Othella Harrington.
Cheeks, who began his NBA assistant coaching career in 1994, is now by far the most experienced. He also was on the same Sixers staff as Thibodeau in the mid-1990s.
As a player, Cheeks was a four-time All-Star point guard and NBA champion, with most of his success coming during an 11-year stint in Philadelphia. He played for the Knicks for two seasons in the early ’90s after being acquired in a trade for Rod Strickland, helping New York to a stunning upset over the Celtics in the 1990 first round.
According to NBC Chicago, Cheeks had planned to take a lesser/ advisory role with the Bulls after last season’s disappointing season. Instead, he’s coming to New York because “the professional/personal opportunity prevailed,” the report said.
Cheeks has a long relationship with Knicks executive William Wesley, who is from the Philadelphia area.
The Knicks’ staff has undergone several changes since Thibodeau took the job. Mike Woodson and Kenny Payne both left for opportunities in the NCAA. Bryant recently interviewed with the Cavs for their open coaching position.