![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEIM2UK5VRAZ5OJDPF5KCL2ZQ4.jpg\")
Mike Brown isn’t weighed down by the high expectations for the Knicks in his first season as their coach.Dustin Satloff\/Getty Images<\/p>\n\u201cThere\u2019s been a ton of great athletes that have had serious injuries,\u201d Tatum told the Globe. \u201cI think naturally as people, you see the setback and moment and then you see the final product when they overcame it, you don\u2019t see the everyday struggle and grind to get to that point. When you\u2019re in it, you really do have a choice to make of how this is going to define you. How are you going to be different?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s inevitable, you won\u2019t be the same. But is it going to be for the better or for the worse? For me the goals and the ideas of what I want in my career and how I want to be remembered doesn\u2019t change. When I come back, I\u2019m still aiming to accomplish all the goals I set out before I got injured.\u201d<\/p>\n
A pleasant distraction from rehabilitation is the release of his fourth Nike shoe but the difference this time is he won\u2019t be rocking the Tatum 4\u2019s on opening night against Philadelphia. He will be sitting at the end of the bench.<\/p>\n
But the injury hasn\u2019t dampened his enthusiasm for promotion. He was active in the design, trading ideas and concepts with the shoe artists over an 18-month period.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe process of designing and creating the shoe has been the same but the marketing won\u2019t be the same because I won\u2019t be ready for at least the start of the season,\u201d he said. \u201cThe change comes where obviously I won\u2019t be wearing the shoe. We started on this journey on the Tatum 4 a year and a half ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a kid who grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant<\/b>, LeBron James<\/b>, Kevin Durant<\/b>, and Michael Jordan<\/b>, having a signature shoe remains a monumental accomplishment, a sign of greatness and stardom.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still like the first day of school honestly,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve always dreamed of having my own shoe but there\u2019s nothing better than I\u2019ve kind of made it to a point where life moves fast and I get to experience a lot of cool things. But there\u2019s only a few times that gives me excitement and joy like when I was a kid. Putting on your shoe for the first time still gives me the same chills as when I wore the Tatum 1\u2019s for the first time. I\u2019m thankful that I\u2019ve made it to the point where I can say I have four signature shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rehabilitation period allowed Tatum to spend more time with his two children, especially his oldest, Deuce, who was able to see his father rise from one of his lowest points to being able to begin basketball activities. <\/p>\n
When Jayson picked up Deuce from school last week, Deuce said he filled his friends in on all the details of dad\u2019s rehab, breaking the news that he has returned to the floor to take shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe silver lining is I\u2019ve spent most of my offseason in Boston,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cSo I\u2019ve been at home a lot more. I think it\u2019s been pretty cool that he\u2019s seen every stage in this process. He was proud to tell his friends at school that his dad is back on the court playing basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tatum detailed the mental toll of such a devastating injury. He was in the bowels of Madison Square Garden during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, knowing he had suffered the first significant injury of his career. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt first I was sad, I was devastated,\u201d he said. \u201cI was defeated. I felt like it wasn\u2019t fair. I felt I was doing everything right, I was doing everything they asked of me and giving 110 percent and I never cheated the game since I was a kid, so it felt like I got betrayed from the game. It felt unfair and I didn\u2019t deserve it. I didn\u2019t feel angry but you get to the point where you accept. Now is the tough part because you\u2019ve got media day on Monday and practice on Tuesday and it\u2019s becoming a reality that I won\u2019t be out there to practice and play when the season starts and that\u2019s frustrating to have to live through.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if the injury will serve as motivation for the second half of his career, he said: \u201cIt will. It will.\u201d<\/p>\n
But normalcy is returning. He is walking normally 19 weeks after the injury, consulting with others who have suffered the same injury, including Tyrese Haliburton<\/b>, Dejounte<\/b> Murray<\/b>, and Damian Lillard<\/b>, and he\u2019s beginning to see his rehabilitation plan come to fruition, but the journey is not over.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long process,\u201d he said. \u201cAt first you don\u2019t feel like yourself because you\u2019re stationary. You\u2019ve got a splint on, you got the boot and then the crutches and a walker and a shower seat. It\u2019s hard to feel like yourself. Once I got out of the boot was the moment I started feeling normal again, you\u2019re putting on a shoe, starting to work out, you\u2019re traveling again and you\u2019re starting to get into better spirits. You are starting to feel like yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike Brown isn’t weighed down by the high expectations for the Knicks in his first season as their coach.Dustin Satloff\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Dealing with expectations<\/p>\n
Favored Knicks face adjustment period<\/p>\n
The Knicks are considered the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference and reach the NBA Finals if they can edge the Cavaliers. Two of the Knicks\u2019 primary nemesis, the Celtics and Pacers, are dealing with injuries to star players and expected to take a step back.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Knicks, after losing to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, went through a laborious and rather embarrassing coaching search that saw them reach out to several already employed coaches only to be rejected. They finally settled on former Sacramento, Cleveland, and Lakers coach Mike Brown<\/b> to replace Tom Thibodeau<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n What the Knicks want out of Brown is a faster-paced offense, less strain on the starting lineup so fatigue does not become a factor in the playoffs, and a more positive atmosphere than the grating Thibodeau created. Brown could be the answer but he\u2019s coming off a flame-out in Sacramento<\/a> where he led the franchise to its first playoff spot in 15 years in 2023 and then was fired less than two years later.<\/p>\n The question is whether Brown is truly the answer in New York because there hasn\u2019t been a better opportunity in the last 26 years for the Knicks to win the East than this year. The pressure is rising because there are no longer any excuses. The club supplemented its bench with the acquisition of Jordan Clarkson<\/b> and former Celtic Guerschon Yabusele<\/b> and the hope is that Mitchell Robinson<\/b> can stay healthy as a pairing with Karl Anthony-Towns<\/b>.<\/p>\n Brown\u2019s hiring was considered a surprise because of the previous candidates the Knicks were seeking. But he said he plans to capitalize on the opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know anybody that has higher expectations than me,\u201d he said. \u201cI love being in a position where you feel expectations. For me that means it\u2019s something of importance that you\u2019re doing. We know what our job is at hand knowing we have a target on our backs and when you have a target on your backs you have to bring your best.\u201d<\/p>\n The firing of Thibodeau was controversial because the Knicks didn\u2019t have a succession plan or primary coaching target who would accept the job and because the club was two games from reaching the NBA Finals. <\/p>\n But there were players such as Mikal Bridges<\/b> who complained about heavy regular-season minutes and it appeared the Knicks were prepared to part ways with Thibodeau barring a trip to the Finals. Star guard Jalen Brunson<\/b> was one of Thibodeau\u2019s biggest supporters and dismissed a question about the coach\u2019s job status just days after the season. But there was reason for speculation.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously it\u2019s sad to see a man I\u2019ve known for a long time part ways with this organization and he\u2019s meant a lot to me,\u201d Brunson said. \u201cI\u2019ve expressed that to him publicly and personally. He\u2019s meant a lot to my career up to this point.\u201d<\/p>\n The goal is for Brunson to play more off ball, allowing Brown to put him in easier positions to score. Brunson is a ball-dominant player who usually uses isolation plays to get to his preferred spots or get to the free throw line. It has worked effectively but it also slows down the offense and forces the other four Knicks to watch.<\/p>\n Brunson said he played shooting guard at Villanova and also in Dallas with Luka Doncic<\/b><\/a> and will have no issue making off-ball adjustments. Towns, who denied he went through offseason procedures on his finger and knee, said he\u2019s more comfortable in Year Two and realizes the team\u2019s lofty expectations. The question is whether he can be more of a defensive presence.<\/p>\n The Knicks were considerably better with Robinson on the floor defensively in place of Towns last season.<\/p>\n The only issue that arose out of media day in New York was a finger injury that valuable swingman Josh Hart<\/b> said would eventually need surgery. He said he aggravated the injury in summer workouts and will wear a splint. Another concern is the starting lineup. Thibodeau made adjustments during the postseason and brought Hart off the bench, but he wants to start ahead of Robinson.<\/p>\n \u201cI loved Thibs and am already going to love Thibs for the things he helped me with, put me in the position to be successful to be paid,\u201d Hart <\/b>said. \u201cBut we\u2019re excited about Mike. It\u2019s going to be a feeling-out process but we\u2019re excited. I\u2019m a starter in the league and I deserve to be a starter in the league. But it would be extremely selfish for me to demand to start. Whatever Mike wants to do, I\u2019m cool with.\u201d<\/p>\n Back at square one<\/p>\n Embiid doesn\u2019t planto change his style <\/p>\n Those in Philadelphia would have loved for superstar center Joel Embiid<\/b>, limited to 19 games last season, to declare himself completely healthy and ready to lead the 76ers back to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2001. But that wasn\u2019t the case Friday.<\/p>\n Embiid said his surgically repaired knee is improving but offered no timetable on a return, only saying he\u2019s improving and plans to take the rehabilitation progress with patience.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve made a lot of progress over the last couple of months,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything is on schedule. I\u2019m following whatever we had planned. There\u2019s not an expectation, it\u2019s making sure everything is right.\u201d<\/p>\n After playing for Team USA in the Paris Olympics last year, Embiid reported to training camp out of shape and with his knee ailing. Eventually he was shut down and underwent a procedure. The team has taken a cautious approach because at age 31, Embiid could be in physical decline.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is to play consistently and not be in the position we were last year,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know what I was going to do last year. This time it\u2019s a different story. I feel better. I got great people around me and they keep me up. It\u2019s a good start and we\u2019ve just got to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n Embiid\u2019s desire to play and his durability have been questioned. He was able to play a full Olympics but then looked like a shell of himself in the subsequent months. His knee issues are more than just minor and the team finally decided to play the long game with his treatment and essentially sacrificed last season.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody knows I want to play and I want to play every single game. I\u2019ve been pretty unlucky when it comes to that compared to most NBA players,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Embiid said he won\u2019t change his physical style of play to save his body. He is just hoping better preparation and treatment will extend his career.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of players in the league that play one side, offense or defense. But for me, my mentality is to do whatever it takes to win,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you are asking me to change the way I play, the only guess is to play offensive fully or take plays off defensively, which doesn\u2019t suit me. For us the biggest thing is health. We\u2019ve got a lot of talent on the court and we\u2019ve got to put it together.\u201d<\/p>\n Layups<\/p>\n Jonathan Kuminga<\/b> isn\u2019t the only restricted free agent remaining on the market. Quentin Grimes<\/b> has still not agreed to a contract with the 76ers. Grimes could accept the team\u2019s qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer or agree to a contract extension. Grimes played well for Philadelphia when acquired from the Mavericks, but with the 76ers entering the season healthy, his role would be greatly reduced. Josh Giddey<\/b> (Chicago) and Cameron Thomas<\/b> (Brooklyn) were the other restricted free agents that agreed to contracts . . . Five years ago Talen Horton-Tucker<\/b> was considered a can\u2019t-miss Lakers prospect, so much so they turned down an opportunity to acquire Toronto\u2019s Kyle Lowry<\/b>, who would have helped a playoff push. Horton-Tucker\u2019s value eventually declined and he was traded to the Jazz in August 2022 in a deal for Patrick Beverley <\/b>and since then he\u2019s been a burly journeyman whose offensive and defensive limits became apparent. After his stint with the Bulls last season, he remained a free agent until signing last week with Fenerbahce Beko in an attempt to resurrect his career. Horton-Tucker joins former Sacramento forward Trey Lyles<\/b> (Real Madrid) and former Celtic Oshae Brissett<\/b> (Maccabi Tel Aviv) as NBA players who pursued the better salaries and more security of the EuroLeague . . . Veteran forward Torrey Craig<\/b><\/a> enjoyed his Celtics experience but is a free agent and is likely going to have to wait until late in training camp or the regular season to attract interest from an NBA team. Craig was a positive locker room presence in Boston but could never earn consistent rotation minutes and the club is opting for younger players in this transition season . . . Former Nuggets coach Michael Malone<\/b> has agreed to a deal with ESPN but he still has coaching aspirations after a bitter ending in Denver. Malone has said if he were to coach again he would prefer a harmonious front office, which wasn\u2019t the case in Denver. He often clashed with general manager Calvin Booth<\/b> about personnel decisions and both were fired by governor Josh Kronke<\/b> in the final week of the regular season, less than two years after the Nuggets won a championship. Malone will be the first name mentioned for potential openings over the next few months with former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau<\/b> as another strong candidate. <\/p>\n Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Joel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2MHJMSRC235Z5EXRQQ5AABLEE4.jpg\")
Joel Embiid only played in 19 games for the 76ers last season because of injuries.Matt Slocum\/Associated Press<\/p>\n![\"Quentin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/5W35EPDEMVCKWKWPS5RMVVTXPA.jpg\")
Quentin Grimes remains without a contract.(AP Photo\/Terrance Williams)\/Associated Press<\/p>\n