Mavericks Klay Thompson has fond memories of Mike…
DALLAS — What does Klay Thompson keep in mind first about Mike Brown?
“His incredible Harley-Davidson collection,” Thompson said with a smile in an interview with The Post before the Knicks managed to pull off a 113-111 win over the Mavericks.
Indeed, Brown owns Harleys, but he also left a strong teaching impression on Thompson before and during their years together with the Warriors.
Klay Thompson, who scored 13 factors, drives on Jalen Brunson during the Knicks’ win over the Mavericks. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
It was a run that produced three championships, with Thompson, who earned 4 rings with Golden State, as the star guard and Brown as the lead assistant under Steve Kerr.
“And on top of [the motorcycles] is attention to detail,” said Thompson, who scored 13 factors in Dallas’ loss. “No stone is unturned with Mike B.,” Thompson said. “And then just his longevity. It was incredible. I was watching him when I was in high school.”
Brown began as a video coordinator in the early 90s with the Nuggets, then toured the NBA with a number of stops as either an assistant or head coach.
Still, Thompson didn’t overlook the Nuggets portion of Brown’s profession.
Before the Warriors performed Denver, Thompson would strive to encourage Brown by reminding him, “They didn’t want to keep you.”
“A little ploy to get the best out of your co-workers,” Thompson said Thursday.
Mike Brown yells out instructions to his groups during the Knicks’ 113-111 win over the Mavericks on Nov. 19, 2025 in Dallas. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Brown left the Warriors in 2022. Then Thompson left in 2024 to be a part of the Mavericks in free company.
They confronted each other Wednesday for the first time since Brown turned the pinnacle coach of the Knicks.
“I was excited for him [being hired by New York]. I know how much he cares about the game. He’s a player’s coach,” Thompson said. “And he began at an entry degree, a video coordinating job. All the way in which to head teaching for many franchises. So his story is that of perseverance and dedication that’s second to none in the teaching world
“He’ll do great. … Tough act to follow with [Tom Thibodeau] but he’ll do a great job.”
Mitchell Robinson said he’s adopted a big-picture outlook on his lowered minutes when requested if it’s mentally robust.
“It was at first, but after thinking about it a lot, obviously I don’t want to miss the playoffs or later on in the future,” Robinson said who scored just three factors but pulled down eight boards Wednesday evening. “Whatever’s best, just going to stick to it.”
Robinson has been working on a minutes restriction since lacking the opening 4 video games of the season for what the Knicks called “load management.” He has often only performed three or 4 minutes at a time and hadn’t eclipsed 20 minutes in any recreation heading into Wednesday.
Still, Brown said Robinson’s minutes restriction had eased and he was eligible to play as many as 27 minutes in Monday’s loss to the Heat.
Robinson began at heart but only logged 18 minutes.
“I feel like I adjusted pretty well, getting out there playing hard for my little short minutes bursts, whatever,” Robinson said. “Just taking it all in.”
The goal of Robinson’s minutes restriction is to preserve his health for the playoffs after two ankle surgical procedures in the past two years. Asked what the medical workers has relayed to him about his minutes restrict, Robinson again pleaded ignorance.
“Doing what [Brown] asks, bro,” he said. “Doing what he asks.”
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