The Knicks are close to hiring veteran Brendan O’Connor to serve as their defensive coordinator on the assistant staff, a source confirmed Thursday.
O’Connor is leaving his longtime home with the Clippers, with whom he served as an assistant since 2013, and will have a prime seat on Mike Brown’s bench.
He also was an assistant with the Pistons during their championship run in 2004, when he worked under Larry Brown and established a relationship with current Knicks executive William Wesley.
The Knicks are still in the market for an associate head coach to run the offense. They attempted to hire James Borrego, Jay Triano and Pablo Prigioni but were either denied permission by their respective teams or turned down by the candidate.
Clippers assistant coach Brendan O’Connor (l.) talks with Nicolas Batum (r.) NBAE via Getty Images
O’Connor, a graduate of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, served under Ty Lue and, previously, Doc Rivers with the Clippers. He also had earlier stops with the Knicks, Hornets, Kings and Nets.
The Knicks defense rated 13th in the NBA last season, slipping five spots below the 2023-24 campaign. O’Connor has the challenging task of boosting a unit featuring Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, two below-average defenders.
The Clippers ranked fourth in defense last season, with assistants Jeff Van Gundy and O’Connor considered big reasons for the success.
Brendan O’Connor NBAE via Getty ImagesWith O’Connor as the latest addition, Brown’s first staff with the Knicks is taking shape. He brought over two lower-level assistants from his last gig in Sacramento: Charles Allen and Riccardo Fois.
Several holdovers from Tom Thibodeau’s staff are expected to return, including Rick Brunson, Mark Bryant, Darren Erman, Mo Cheeks and Jordan Brink.
Others have been informed they’re not coming back. As The Post first reported, Dice Yoshimoto, Andy Greer, Daniel Brady and Othella Harrington all are gone.
Greer’s brother, Larry, was an advance scout under Thibodeau and is expected back.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostAccording to sources, Greg St. Jean, an assistant with the Lakers, and Patrick Mutombo, who is with the Grizzlies, have been considered.
