On Tuesday, it was announced that Payne has agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks to join their coaching staff as an assistant.
In addition, Payne will be replaced with Indiana assistant Bruiser Flint on Kentucky’s coaching staff, according to Jon Rothstein.
The Knicks recently hired Tom Thibodeau to be the franchise’s next head coach, and he quickly targeted Payne to be an assistant. Not only is Payne one of the more promising assistants in college basketball, but he also has close relationships with former Wildcats who are now NBA stars, including Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox, Anthony Davis, and Jamal Murray among others.