The New York Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals less than a week. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported.
Thibodeau leads the franchise to its most successful period in twenty years. Under Thibodeau, New York made the playoffs in four of five seasons, winning at least 50 games in a back-to-back season for the first time since 1993-95 and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.
Despite its success, it seems that the Knicks think that Thibodeau can get more with this lineup. He has long had not had enough trust in the bench reputation until it was almost too late.
Delon Wright and Landry Shamet both scored significant games in two minutes after defeating the Indiana Pacers 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Both players proved to work on the floor, which may further illustrate that Thibodeau’s lack of confidence in his bench was wrong.
Charania also reported that the Knicks front desk felt it was time to make fresh noises in the locker room.
Before the dismissal, star guard Jalen Brunson expressed support for Tibodo. Brunson has had the best years in his career at Thibodeau, forming two All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams.
Thibodeau ended his Knicks tenure with a record of 226-174 (.565). He won the Coach of the Year Award in 2021.
Who can replace Tibodo with the Knicks?
The immediate response pointed out two potential candidates: Michael Malone and Jay Wright.
Malone was with the Denver Nuggets until the last month of the regular season. He is a well-known winner of the championship lineage and helps coach Denver to win the championship in 2023. However, one of the frustrations with Malone’s Nuggets Brass is that he doesn’t trust young players very much.
Wright’s days at Villanova, famous coaches Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. The Knicks are affectionately called “Novanics” because they also have Donte Divincenzo. However, Wright has never coached in the NBA.
Former NBA head coaches who are currently free agents include Mike Budenholzer, Taylor Jenkins, Frank Vogel and Mike Brown.
The Phoenix Suns are currently working on a coaching search with Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott.
