The New York Knicks have parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau on Wednesday, ending a five-year tenure that saw the team rise from obscurity to relevance in the Eastern Conference.
Despite leading the franchise to its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years and compiling their best regular season record since 2013, Thibodeau was dismissed due to internal concerns, particularly those voiced by the players themselves.
According to reports from SNY and ESPN, several of the Knicks’ top rotation players, including Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart, met with team president Leon Rose and owner James Dolan following their postseason exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.
While players reportedly respected and admired Thibodeau, the feedback revealed significant concerns about the coach’s ability to maximize talent, manage player workloads, and make timely adjustments under playoff pressure.
Thibodeau’s infamous reliance on his starters became a hot topic late in the season. The Knicks had three players, Bridges, Hart, and Brunson, rank among the top 20 in minutes per game, with Bridges and Hart leading the entire league.
Though Brunson remained vocal in support of his coach, questions about his durability loomed large, as he battled injuries throughout the postseason.
It was clear that the front office saw the heavy minute loads and lack of flexibility as a red flag, especially given the team’s aspirations to reach the NBA Finals.
The move stunned many around the league. As SNY’s Ian Begley noted, the Knicks had been on a steady upward trajectory, with year-over-year improvement under Thibodeau. New York had posted three straight playoff berths and won 51 games this past season, the franchise’s highest win total in over a decade.
Still, the organizational urgency to chase a championship led to the decision to hit reset and find a new voice on the sidelines.
The Knicks have already begun their search for a replacement, with reports linking them to several prominent names.
Jason Kidd and Ime Udoka are high on New York’s list, though both are currently under contract and unlikely to be made available.
The Mavericks, despite missing the playoffs this year following the Luka Doncic trade, value Kidd’s leadership after a Finals run in 2024. Udoka, meanwhile, has revitalized the Rockets, turning them into a 52-win team just two years removed from the bottom of the West. Houston has reportedly “no interest” in letting him go.
Still, New York may have strategic motives. Kidd has a strong relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo from their time in Milwaukee, a superstar who continues to be linked to the Knicks in trade rumors. Bringing in Kidd could theoretically boost the Knicks’ pitch should Giannis ever push for a move.
More realistic coaching options include Villanova legend Jay Wright, who coached Brunson, Bridges, and Hart in college, and former Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant.
Whoever steps into the role will face enormous expectations. Thibodeau raised the bar, and now New York expects nothing short of a championship push.
