“To be honest, to start, I was probably thinking I wanted to be a college coach. But then I got into the pro game right out of college and I’ve been doing it ever since.” For more than 25 years, Brendan O’Connor has been quietly doing his work in the NBA and has helped build several teams. Now with the reports linking him to the Knicks, people want to know: how does BOC impact teams? We have the answer for you, but also check out why other executives are already considering a win for New York.

“A hell of a basketball coach and a great guy. Knicks just made their best offseason acquisition.” An anonymous Western Conference exec said Brendan O’Connor is a ‘great get for the Knicks.’ With this heavy praise to go by, let’s find out more about the potential addition to Mike Brown’s backroom staff.

Brendan O’Connor’s Coaching Career Timeline

The New Hampshire native grew up in Manchester and Gilford, has basketball in his veins. He is the son of a former high school basketball coach. John “Jack” O’Connor, who coached in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Coming from a family of hoopers, the only question of when and not if, when Brendan O’Connor wanted to make a name in the NBA. “He was a basketball guy,” O’Connor said about his father. “I have three older brothers who were basketball players. I had a love for the game, I kind of knew that was the road I wanted to take.”

His road in the NBA began with scouting and assistant roles since 2000, which includes stops with the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, and the Clippers. A long lineage of history, which also includes a championship when he was part of the staff with the ’04 Pistons.

Starting out at USBL led to his beginning as a scout; it was Eric Musselman who gave BOC his first break. Their relationship continued as Musselman moved to the CBA, and O’Connor’s role also grew from intern to assistant coach. O’Connor moved on to another CBA team, also in Grand Rapids, with player/coach Mark Hughes. When Hughes took to the court as a player, it was time for O’Connor to perform as the head coach. Which proved important as the door to the NBA opened.

It was Joe Dumars, who once became the President of basketball operations in 2000, who wanted Brendan O’Connor. Even though the Pistons changed their head coach from Irvine to Carlisle and Larry Brown, Dumars kept BOC. Before Brown elevated him, he served as an advanced scout for Irvine and Carlisle. That trust with Larry Brown continued during their next spell with the Knicks. So yes, after two decades, one can say Brendan O’Connor is back in the Big Apple.

Notable Achievements and Coaching Style

As stated earlier, the New Hampshire native had a role to play with the Pistons’ ’04 run. Apart from that, he has developed his reputation for defensive expertise and player development, and participation in title-contending teams. His growth also makes sense since he has spent a significant amount around the learning tree of elite coaches like Larry Brown, Doc Rivers, and Ty Lue.

Especially with the Clippers, who were once the NBA’s worst franchise. They’ve been to the playoffs ten times since O’Connor joined them, including the conference finals in 2021.

Brendan O’Connor’s Personal Background

The New Hampshire native grew up in Manchester, and his family moved to Gilford when he was 12. He enrolled at Saint Anselm College in Manchester with the idea of playing in college, but that never panned out. “I really wasn’t that good, to be honest. I got hurt. It was the end of my career.” Even though his playing career ended, his family connection helped him with his next step–coaching.

Three of O’Connor’s siblings attended Trinity HS, then he was offered to coach the Trinity freshman team with his cousin. Apart from them, Brendan O’Connor also has three children and has a reserved approach to the media about family life. But his legacy on the court does the talking.

Career Influence and Legacy

In his 25-year NBA career, he has served in different roles pertaining to the team’s interests. From recruiting to setting defensive schemes, Brendan O’Connor has done it all. That’s why Mike Brown is eager to add him as their defensive coordinator to the assistant staff. Under his partial watch, Pistons big man Ben Wallace broke out as a two-way star, earning three of his four Defensive Player of the Year titles during O’Connor’s Motor City tenure. Plus, the recent Clippers’ elite defense also paints a positive picture for O’Connor.

He even took on a larger role in the Clippers’ everyday operations after both Lue and associate head and former Knicks boss Jeff Van Gundy were forced to miss time. Overall, the Clippers were ranked fourth in defense last season. Much better than the Knicks, who were 13th in the NBA last season. And who can forget their 0-10 record in the regular season against last season’s top three teams. So, a right upgrade for the Knicks as a new era under Brown begins to take shape.