Craig Robinson, the Knicks' VP of Player Development and G League operations, has left the organization to accept a job as the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
“I’m extremely honored and excited for this tremendous and vital opportunity,” Robinson said in a statement from the NABC.
Robinson was under contract with the Knicks through August, but his departure from the organization was widely expected. The New York Daily News first reported shortly after Leon Rose took over as team president that Robinson was unlikely to be retained.
Former Knick president Steve Mills hired Robinson, brother-in-law of former president Barack Obama, in 2017. Robinson oversaw the club’s G League team and played a significant role in how the NBA team approached player development.
Assistant GM Walt Perrin, who was hired by Rose last month, may take on some of Robinson’s responsibilities.
Other front office members from the Mills era are under contract through August. Some are not expected to be retained.
Rose has retained GM Scott Perry, who is under contract for the 2020-21 season. Longtime exec Allan Houston is expected to have a role under Rose. Michael Arcieri, the director of basketball strategy under Perry and Mills, will remain with the club in the new strategic planning department under VP of Basketball and Strategic Planning, Brock Aller.
Sean McLean, a former VP of Strategy and Operational Excellence at Stack Sports, was also hired by Aller to work in the strategy department, a league source said.
McLean describes himself on his LinkedIn page as “passionate about the applications of analytics across organizations.”
In announcing his move to the Knicks front office, McLean wrote, “This is a dream come true. From my time at Krossover through my time earning my MBA (at The Wharton School), I feel like it has all led me to this point. I am excited to get started and GO KNICKS!”
The next personnel move for the Knicks, obviously, is at head coach. The club is believed to have completed formal interviews with all candidates at this point. If they don’t interview any other candidates or conduct another round of interviews with finalists, the next steps of the search would be making a final decision on the coach, negotiating a contract and having the candidate meet with owner James Dolan. Dolan, like all owners, will have final signoff on the decision.
For weeks, coaches and agents with a vested interest in the Knicks’ search have viewed Tom Thibodeau as the most likely candidate for the job. There has been some legitimate internal support for Kenny Atkinson as well. Atkinson was among the last candidates to interview for the opening. Jason Kidd and Mike Woodson are also highly regarded by influential people at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks host virtual camp
The Knicks hosted their first virtual summer camp on Monday.
Dennis Smith Jr. was the guest host. More than 500 children attended the session, which featured live virtual workouts led by Junior Knicks coaches, players and alumni.
“It was definitely unique to be doing virtual basketball drills but I really enjoyed the experience and it’s important that we keep kids engaged with the game that we all love, during these times,” Smith Jr. said.
This is the 27th year the Knicks are holding the camp. Usually, campers pay to attend but it is free this summer.
Sessions are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Former Knick Rod Strickland is expected to host the next session.