Agent: Larry Brown is the Knicks coach

NEW YORK - Larry Brown maintained all along that he expected to be back with the Knicks next season. His agent says nothing has changed — even if the newspapers say differently. Joe Glass said he was told Monday to ignore reports that surfaced over the weekend claiming the Knicks were looking to part ways with their coach after one dismal season. The New York Post and Daily News reported Sunday that owner James Dolan is considering buying out Brown's contract. His possible replacement: team president Isiah Thomas, according to the Post. "I spoke to Isiah Thomas earlier this afternoon and he categorically denied that there's any substances to what was in the paper," Glass told The Associated Press. But if the reports are true, that would be fine with Stephon Marbury, who feuded with Brown throughout the season. He said either Brown or Thomas would be OK with him. "I wouldn't mind, it doesn't matter who coaches," the point guard told the AP. "I don't care if Larry Brown comes back. I wouldn't mind at all." Thomas coached the Indiana Pacers for three seasons, reaching the playoffs each time, before he was fired. The Knicks wouldn't address the reports that he could be returning to the sidelines. "We have not commented on anything over the last two days," said Barry Watkins, senior vice president of communications for Madison Square Garden. Brown, a Brooklyn native, described his hiring last year as a "dream job," and the Knicks hoped his happy homecoming signaled a return to the playoffs. But despite a league-high payroll of more than $120 million, New York finished with the league's second-worst record, going 23-59 and matching the most losses in franchise history. "Based on our record, that's normal for anybody to have that speculation," Marbury said of the reports. Still, Brown — who signed to a five-year deal with the Knicks worth a reported $50 million — has said he believes he will return. "I meet with Mr. Dolan and Steve (MSG sports president Mills) probably once a week," Brown said the day after the season ended. "I've never, ever gotten a feeling they don't want me to be a part of this. And they know how much I want to be here, especially in light of the fact that we won 23 games and I feel directly responsible for that." He acknowledged that coaches without his resume probably wouldn't be safe with such a poor record, but Thomas indicated after the season ended that the Hall of Fame coach would be back for another try. "We haven't considered making a change because of his history. He may not want to hear this, but outside of Detroit and maybe Indy, he starts slow," he said. "If you look at his history, he's a slow starter and then he picks up steam and all of a sudden players start doing what he wants them to do and GMs such as myself find a way to get him the things that he needs and he finds a way to win. And I believe that will be the case here." If Brown doesn't return, it would be the second time in as many years that a team didn't want him back. He reached a buyout last summer with the Detroit Pistons — Brown maintains he was fired — even though he led the Pistons to the NBA Finals in both of seasons. Brown endured a miserable season with the Knicks, squabbling with players through the media, admitting some stopped listening to him, and missing three games in April because of illness. He had only one worse season as a coach, when he went 21-61 with the San Antonio Spurs in 1988-89. Glass said Brown was recovering well after recent surgery, and shot down another report that Brown was interested in another coaching position next season. "He's the coach of the Knicks, and that's the only team he wants to coach," he said. -AP