New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown says one of footballâs most iconic hustle plays has become part of his basketball teamâs identity.
Speaking after the Knicksâ preseason game on October 17, Brown told reporters heâs watched DK Metcalfâs legendary chase-down tackle â100 timesâ and uses it to teach his players about effort and accountability.
âRussell Wilson threw an interception at the goal line,â Brown said. âIf you watch DK Metcalf, it was bam, right now. He went from possibly catching the ball or scoring a touchdown, then an interception happened. He didnât hesitate, didnât step toward the sideline â it was right now. Every time I watch it, I get goosebumps. Iâve watched it probably 100 times.â
The play heâs referencing â Metcalfâs 2020 chase-down tackle of Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker â remains one of the most replayed moments in modern NFL history, and a top highlight of his from his time with the Seattle Seahawks. Metcalf sprinted more than 100 yards to prevent a defensive touchdown, saving seven points and sparking an avalanche of praise across sports.
âItâs not going to show up in the stat sheet,â Brown added, âbut it was the play of the game in my opinion. No matter what happened, that moment stood out.â
Mike Brown Teaching âNext-Play Speedâ
For Brown, the clip isnât just football nostalgia â itâs a teaching tool. He told reporters that the Knicks have been tracking a new metric called ânext-play speedâ in practice and film sessions.
âThatâs something weâre constantly talking to our guys about,â Brown said. âWe show them examples â not just basketball examples â of what it looks like when you respond immediately and donât hang your head.â
Brown has emphasized effort and defensive transition since taking over in New York, and the Metcalf clip has become his favorite way to illustrate what relentless effort looks like.
From Sacramento to New York
Before joining the Knicks, Brown spent three seasons as head coach of the Sacramento Kings, helping transform one of the leagueâs worst defenses into a disciplined, high-energy unit. Under his watch, the Kings ended a 16-year playoff drought and were routinely among the leagueâs leaders in pace and offensive efficiency.
Now, heâs applying that same foundation to a Knicks team eager to build on last yearâs progress. New York finished 51â31 and earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference but fell in the Eastern Conference finals 4-2 to a surging Indiana Pacers team.Â
Brownâs defensive pedigree could help the Knicks shore up the lapses that cost them key games late in the postseason. During his tenure with the Kings, Brown helped push Sacramentoâs defense in the right direction. After ranking near the bottom of the league in defensive rating in his first season (25th in 2022â23), the Kings improved to 14th in 2023â24, according to Basketball Reference. That growth reflected Brownâs emphasis on communication, transition effort, and accountability â traits heâs now working to instill in New York.
The Message Behind the Highlight
Brownâs fascination with the Metcalf play is about more than admiration â itâs a cultural blueprint. For a Knicks roster led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby that mindset could be the separator in a loaded Eastern Conference.
Effort, not talent, is what Brown keeps spotlighting. And in Metcalfâs full-speed chase, he sees the perfect metaphor: a star refusing to give up on a play that no one expected him to make.
As the Knicks prepare for opening night, Brownâs message is simple â next-play speed isnât just a stat. Itâs a standard.
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