Before he led some of the NBA’s most storied franchises and coached some of the game’s biggest stars, Mike Brown played for the Mesa Community College (MCC) Thunderbirds during a golden era of MCC basketball. Tonight, Brown is preparing to lead the New York Knicks into the 2026 NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years — hoping to win his fifth NBA championship as a coach. A journey that proves champions can start anywhere.