NBA fans got fooled again — and at this point, it almost feels like a rite of passage.
Ahead of the New York Knicks’ MLK Day matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, parody account NBACentel sent timelines into chaos after posting that the Knicks had fired head coach Mike Brown.
Some fans immediately caught on. Others… not so much.
On MLK day?????
— josh⚡️ (@JoshUntucked) January 20, 2026
“Man lost his job faster than Knicks fans lose patience,” joked @ajangid346.
Then came the classic Centel callback.
“Never wrong, just early,” wrote @ProphetXHoops.
The post was fake, but the timing couldn’t have been worse for New York.
Hours later, the Knicks were handled by the Mavericks, 114–97, marking their fourth straight loss and adding fuel to the growing frustration around the team.
“Don’t think the team ever warmed up to him” NBA fans speculate on Mike Brown’s relationship with his players
As the losing streak stretched on, the conversation quickly shifted from jokes to real concern — especially about Mike Brown’s standing in the locker room.
One Knicks fan page didn’t hold back.
“Mike Brown’s days as the Knicks head coach may be numbered. This is the worst stretch of basketball in the Jalen Brunson era and it isn’t even close. He’s clearly lost the locker room,” posted @KnicksBeast.
Instead of pushback, the replies were filled with agreement.
“Don’t think the team ever warmed up to him,” said @KnickNatic.
“Usually I’d say you’re exaggerating but given we are at full strength playing like this AND losing by 20+ to garbage teams, yeah he needs to be let go,” added @buyinglower.
Others couldn’t resist bringing up the past.
“Where are all the thibs haters now,” wrote @triplesss1123.
NBACentel may not have been reporting news this time, but Knicks fans are starting to wonder if the joke is inching closer to reality.
