It’s no surprise that Mike, now head coach of the New York Knicks, and Laurel are such a winning team. The dynamic duo love to laugh and have fun together. Their chemistry is palpable. Even though both feign not remembering the exact number of years they’ve been married, I’m not buying it. After 26 years of marriage (they finally agree on the number), these two genuinely seem to enjoy each other’s company.
When I asked the couple their secret for staying together so long, Mike replies, “A successful marriage is a lot like a successful basketball team. You have to work at it. It doesn’t just come naturally. You have to work on understanding other people’s needs.”
Laurel playfully adds, “Yeah, and you better have great chemistry and you better pass me the ball.”
She laughs as the two exchange smiles.
They are family
The adage “The family that plays together, stays together” applies here. From the very beginning, Laurel was traveling around Europe to every game, watching Mike play and later coach in Italy. It wasn’t long before her exuberance for the game led her to a job in marketing, game operations, presentation and entertainment for Mike’s team.
“I like all the, as they say in Italian, contorni (side dishes) to the game.” Both she and Mike speak fluent Italian.
These days, she juggles Knicks’ games with those at Rye High School, where the couple’s 17-year-old son, Michael, plays.
“In our home, Rye High School basketball competes with the New York Knicks,” the proud mom says.
Laurel is Mike’s point guard, controlling the ball at home, so to speak.
“She is really, really good at organizing anything. She organizes my life and lets me just think about basketball,” Mike says.
While he’s the first to admit that it’s a privilege to coach for an NBA team, “most people don’t realize how grueling the schedule can be.”
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