REPORT: Johnnie Bryant Hired as Cavaliers' Associate HC

07/06/2024 09:10 PM

Knicks lose their top assistant to an Eastern Conference rival.

Earlier today, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Knicks would be losing their associate head coach, Johnnie Bryant, on a lateral move to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He'll be jumping on the staff of former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson in the same role, reuniting with Donovan Mitchell, who he coached while both were in the Utah Jazz organization.

Bryant was hired by the Knicks in September 2020 as someone brought in by World Wide Wes, just before Tom Thibodeau began his first season as head coach. Bryant had left on another lateral move from the associate coach position in Utah after six years under Quin Snyder.

Bryant, who in his playing days was a guard at the University of Utah, is reuniting with Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs' star guard who they just signed to a three-year extension. The two have been extremely close, with the two's connection being heavily referenced when the Knicks pursued Mitchell last offseason. Although he interviewed for the head coaching role, the 38-year-old will be the head assistant for Kenny Atkinson, and it's fair to assume that the Cavs' interest in Bryant had something to do with Mitchell agreeing to terms on an extension.

Bryant was an integral part of the Knicks' coaching staff and had close connections with various Knicks, including All-NBA forward Julius Randle. The Knicks will presumably look internally for a replacement as Thibs' top assistant. Rick Brunson and the recently hired Maurice Cheeks, both former NBA players, make sense with their connections to Thibodeau. Could the Knicks bring back former assistant Kenny Payne, who was fired from Louisville earlier this year, into their staff? I don't think you can rule it out, although he might be fine with his current gig as John Calipari's associate head coach at Arkansas.