Dawn Staley Linked to Knicks Job, But NBA Move Isn’t Happening
Over the weekend, rumors swirled around South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, linking her to the New York Knicks’ head coaching vacancy. According to a report from KnicksFanTV, the Knicks reached out to the legendary Gamecock coach following their surprise dismissal of Tom Thibodeau, despite his recent run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
On Monday, USC Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati confirmed the contact, acknowledging that the Knicks had indeed reached out to Staley.
Due to a clause in Staley’s contract that waives her buyout if she accepts a job in the NBA or WNBA, speculation grew that this might be the opportunity that would finally lure her from Columbia. After all, this wasn’t her first time being linked to an NBA role—she previously interviewed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021 and has been connected with both the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards in the past.
However, as of Tuesday morning, those rumors were laid to rest. The Athletic’s James Edwards reported that Staley is not a finalist for the Knicks job. While New York was reportedly impressed by their conversation with her, former NBA coaches Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins have emerged as frontrunners. Other names still in consideration include James Borrego and Micah Nori.
Staley has consistently expressed disinterest in coaching at the professional level. “I’m not intrigued by the NBA or the WNBA,” she has said in the past, emphasizing her passion for the college game and her role in advancing women’s basketball.
Money is also not a deciding factor. In January, she signed a five-year, $25.25 million contract extension, making her the highest-paid coach in women’s basketball history. The WNBA doesn’t have the financial leverage to compete with that, and even most NBA coaching salaries hover only slightly above her current deal.
So while her name might continue to surface in coaching rumors, Dawn Staley isn’t going anywhere. She’s locked in with the Gamecocks, who head into the upcoming season once again as national championship contenders and likely the preseason No. 1.
