Sunday marked a full-circle moment for Mike Brown.
One day before Game 3 at Madison Square Garden — the first NBA Finals game at The World’s Most Famous Arena since 1999 — Brown was asked about his first experience at the arena as Knicks head coach.
“I was like, holy crap, I can’t believe this is where I’m going to be coaching,” Brown said. “The biggest thing was when I got to the bench where we sit, and I kind of turned and looked at the crowd; I saw my wife and family, like, three rows back, I was like, dang, thanks, Mr. Dolan; that’s pretty nice.
Ben Stiller and Head Coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks smile during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 7, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images“Just obviously the building, but more importantly when you get in and you look, for me, I see my family right there, then obviously all the stars. It makes it feel different than almost any other building you’ve been in.”
Brown’s relationship with those stars has grown from that moment to Monday, which was expected to be one of the most star-studded and electric atmospheres in New York City history.
For starters, there was a time his wife, Carolyn, was too starstruck to approach Ben Stiller.
“Ben Stiller was over there,” Brown said earlier this postseason. “I don’t think I’ve ever met Ben, but he was over there, and she was like, ‘Ben’s over there.’ I was like, ‘Go get a picture. I’m sure he’ll take a picture with you.’ [She was like], ‘No, I can’t do it.’ ”
Fast-forward to Sunday. Stiller was in attendance at Knicks practice, filming as much content as he could. Brown said Sunday was when he first officially met Stiller.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown during Sunday’s practice at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostAs Brown walked off the podium following his press conference, he embraced Stiller and the two sent a message to Carolyn. They looked like two peas in a pod.
“When you see him next time, approach him,” Brown said with his arm around Stiller. “He’s gonna take a picture with you.”
Another celebrity was in attendance at Brown’s press conference: Fat Joe. Brown has become tight with the rapper this year, sharing what he describes as a friendship.
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“A great day for me today,” Brown said as the press conference got started, before any questions could be asked. “For the first time, I got a chance to meet Ben Stiller. I actually gave him a handshake and a hug. And I got my man Fat Joe sitting in the back. This is a great day for Mike Brown.”
When Brown was done answering questions from the media, Fat Joe chimed in and yelled at Brown that he hates his shoes. It’s part of a long-running joke between the two about Brown’s preference to wear old-school P.F. Flyers.
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“He used to kill me about my shoes,” Brown said. “He used to kill me. He’d try to tell me I need to get some Nikes because they got more cushion and all this stuff.”
But Brown did not listen to Fat Joe’s advice. His P.F. Flyers have become a good luck charm for him, so much so that Fat Joe changed his tune.
“I need you to keep them on, Coach,” he said, adding that if the Knicks win the championship, he wants an autographed pair from Brown.
Brown began his Knicks tenure having to fill Tom Thibodeau’s shoes. Now, though, he has celebrities obsessing over his own.
