New York Knicks Hire Chris Jent As Associate Head Coach

On Friday, the New York Knicks reportedly came to terms with Chris Jent to become their new associate head coach.

The news was reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, who added:

"[Jent] returns to the Knicks, where he spent 1996-97 as a player. Jent has been an NBA assistant for over two decades and now assumes an elevated role as a significant hire for Brown. He won a title as a player with the Rockets in 1994. And guided the Hornets to the Las Vegas summer league championship in July."

After an impressive four-year career at Ohio State, Jent played professionally in the CBA and Spain before short stints with the Houston Rockets and the Knicks. The forward later played in Italy, Spain, Greece, and Australia.

Jent has been working as a coach since 2003, when he was hired as an assistant by the 76ers. He worked with the Orlando Magic in 2004 and 2005, briefly serving as interim head coach after Johnny Davis was fired. He led the team to a 5-13 record as a 35-year-old coach.

Jent's longest tenure as an assistant came with the Cleveland Cavaliers, from 2006 to 2011. It was in this role that Jent formed relationships with current Knicks head coach Mike Brown and megastar LeBron James. Jent served as James' personal shooting coach during this time. 

Now, Jent will be working with Brown again as he takes the Knicks' job shortly after leading the Charlotte Hornets’ Summer League team to a 6-0 record and Summer League championship.