Knicks Assistant Coach Chris Jent to Miss Time for Personal Reasons
Associate head coach, responsible for offense, Jent has been absent from recent games.
New York Knicks associate head coach Chris Jent will be away from the team for an undisclosed period due to personal reasons, according to reports. Jent, who oversees the team's offense, has already missed several games this season. Assistant coach T.J. Saint has been filling Jent's role on the front of the bench during his absence.
Jent was present for the Knicks' season-opening loss to the 76ers on Oct. 20, 2026, and participated in the team's championship ceremony that preceded the game. He was not on the bench for the team's losses to the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic and will also miss the game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
Saint, who served as the Knicks' Summer League coach this year, has taken over Jent's responsibilities on the bench. He was observed using a clipboard to lead huddles during timeouts in Jent's absence.
Jent, 56, is a respected figure in the league and was instrumental in adjusting the Knicks' offensive scheme last season. His implementation of a system that featured Karl-Anthony Towns as a central offensive hub helped create better shot opportunities for Jalen Brunson, elevate the play of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, and contributed to the team's championship run.
This is Jent's second season with the Knicks, having been brought in by head coach Mike Brown last year. Brown has previously advocated for Jent's head coaching potential, stating that "Somebody needs to give him an interview because he’ll help your team win at the highest level."
Jent has extensive experience in the NBA, including a brief 18-game stint as the Magic's interim head coach in the 2004-05 season. He has served as an assistant coach for 18 seasons across eight different teams: the 76ers, Magic, Cavaliers, Kings, Hawks, Lakers, Hornets, and Knicks.
Previously a player at Ohio State and briefly with the Rockets championship team in 1993-94, Jent also had a short playing career with the Knicks during the 1996-97 season before playing overseas. He also worked with Brown on the Cavaliers' staff, where he earned praise from LeBron James as his personal shooting coach. Jent and James later reunited with the Lakers.
The Knicks organization highly values Jent's extensive knowledge, and they will need to adapt during his absence.