Michael Kay torches Knicks’ Leon Rose for skipping Mike Brown press conference

Another NBA offseason means another opportunity for New York Knicks president Leon Rose to remain in hiding.

Rose has not held a solo press conference with the New York media since taking over the Knicks in April 2020. The Knicks are fresh off their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in a quarter-century. They just fired head coach Tom Thibodeau and hired a new one in Mike Brown. Through it all, Rose has not changed his stance with the media.

And while Rose seemingly sees no reason to start holding press conferences now, Michael Kay ripped the Knicks president for continuing to avoid the media.

“It’s been four years of silence for Leon Rose. Four years!” Kay ranted on his ESPN New York radio show. “I don’t understand the reticence about standing in front of the microphone. And you owe it to Mike Brown. To me, it’s a diss to your head coach that you’re not there to introduce him as the new head coach. And the only reason I could think that you wouldn’t be there is that you’re deathly afraid of answering questions.”

The Knicks formally announced Brown as their new head coach this week during an introductory press conference and Rose was not there. Worse, Rose’s absence left Brown to answer questions about the Knicks decision to fire Thibodeau. Brown had nothing to do with the firing, But if Rose isn’t there to answer why the organization decided to fire his friend in Thibodeau, someone will have to take those questions. And Brown was put in an unfortunate situation during his first public appearance as Knicks head coach.

“What a slap in the face to Mike Brown to not show your face the day he’s introduced,” Kay continued. “Adam Silver allows this to go on. It’s a bad look for the NBA…Everybody talks about the big tough New York media. Oh, we’re so tough on people. But yet, we let them get away with this nonsense. That they’re allowed by the league to get away with this nonsense. How is it possible that the general manager of the New York Knicks is not forced to answer questions about a coaching change. In essence, you’re flipping off your fanbase.”

The refusal by Rose and the Knicks front office to speak to the media is a really bad look. But it starts at the top. And considering some of the embarrassing public relations moments by James Dolan throughout his tenure with the Knicks, that’s probably why we’re here.

Everything Kay said is right. The Knicks front office should address the media and their fanbase regularly. They should not be allowed to skirt the media for five years and counting. But the pushback is undoubtedly lessened because they’re winning. If the Knicks were losing, calls for Rose to speak would be louder. But after decades of turmoil within the Knicks organization, fans are so relieved to have a perennial winner that having a president who skirts the media seems like a small price to pay.