Former New York Knicks guard Pablo Prigioni has been promoted to lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. This move comes one year after he declined an opportunity to join Mike Brown's coaching staff with the Knicks. The Timberwolves confirmed the promotion, which sees Prigioni replace Micah Nori, who left to become head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. The Knicks' current form remains strong, with a recent 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on June 14, 2026.
Last summer, the New York Knicks received permission to speak with Prigioni about a spot on Mike Brown's new staff. The former fan favorite, who played for the Knicks from 2012 to 2015, cited family reasons for staying in Minnesota. At the time, it was reported he felt valued by the Timberwolves organization. His decision to remain put him in a prime position to step up when Nori's departure created an opening. Prigioni's intelligence and understanding of pace and spacing, traits that made him a popular player, have translated well to his coaching career.
He started as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets in 2018 before moving to Minnesota a year later. There, he helped modernize the team's offense, emphasizing faster play and three-point shooting. His work also allowed him to build a strong relationship with former Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns, who was already with the Knicks when they pursued Prigioni. The Knicks had considered him for a prominent role after other targets, like James Borrego and Jay Triano, were unavailable.
Prigioni's new role as Chris Finch's top assistant is a significant step in his coaching rise. At 49, he will now have more responsibility in game preparation, in-game strategy, and direct communication with players. This promotion provides continuity for the Timberwolves after losing a well-regarded assistant. It also potentially places Prigioni on the radar for future head coaching opportunities, especially if Minnesota continues as a strong Western Conference team.
For the Knicks, missing out on Prigioni does not appear to have been a major setback. Mike Brown ultimately completed his staff with a mix of external hires and holdovers from Tom Thibodeau's tenure. That group helped guide the team to its ultimate success. The Knicks' recent performance shows their strength, having won four of their last five games. Their form reads WWLWW, with wins including a 107-106 victory over the Spurs on June 11 and a 105-104 win on June 6.
The team's pursuit of Prigioni is a footnote to their ongoing success. Their latest result was a hard-fought 94-90 win against the San Antonio Spurs on June 14, 2026. This capped a tense series where the teams traded victories. Earlier results include a 111-115 loss on June 9 and a dominant 130-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 26. This consistent performance, with a 4-1 record in their last five outings, shows the team is in a good place. Fans can track the upcoming schedule on the team's [fixtures](/fixtures) page.
While the Knicks' interest in Prigioni was well-founded given his history and coaching acumen, his choice to stay in Minnesota has worked out for his career trajectory. The organization moved forward without him and found success. Prigioni, meanwhile, has secured a larger platform to influence one of the NBA's evolving teams. His story remains a connection between two franchises.
