Three days after their defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks have decided to part ways with their veteran coach, Tom Thibodeau. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the move comes amid concerns over the team’s culture and approach in their humbling series loss to the Indiana Pacers.
“Tom Thibodeau has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the New York Knicks after five seasons,” said Shams on SportsCenter. “I’m told the Knicks believe they need a new voice, someone who can take them to the next step of the organization’s future, which they hope is an NBA championship. They feel like they need a new voice, and that’s what the decision was made today by Knicks owner James Dolan. Leon Rose informed Tom Thibodeau today that he has been let go as head coach.”
The Knicks had a solid regular season, finishing third in the East at 51-31. After the trade for Karl-Anthony Towns, they developed solid chemistry going into the playoffs, where they managed to beat the Pistons and Celtics for their first Conference Finals appearance in 25 years.
All was looking good for the Knicks… until their match-up with the Pacers in round three. Unequipped to handle Indiana’s fast-paced style, the Knicks quickly lost control of the series after going down 2-0 in their first two games at home.
Now, after their playoff elimination (with at least four losses at Madison Square Garden), the Knicks have decided on major changes to further maximize their title potential. While most of the moves are expected to alter the roster (potentially even adding a big star like Kevin Durant), it seems they are also on the market for a coach to bring a new direction to the locker room.
The Knicks saw a lot of growth under Thibs. When he first got hired in 2020, after three years with the Timberwolves, the Knicks were coming off one of their worst seasons ever (17-65) and were at rock bottom as a franchise. It was Thibs who helped establish a championship culture in New York and make the Knicks a respectable team.
It’s also no secret that Thibodeau’s coaching methods are highly controversial in NBA circles. Besides a defensive-first strategy, his game plan often involves giving heavy minutes to the starters and restricting the rotation to six or seven players. Some have even called his coaching style outdated.
As the clear scapegoat for their failures, the Knicks dismissed Thibodeau with hopes of ushering in a brand new era for the franchise. As good as the ride has been with Jalen Brunson, the Knicks need a primary superstar to lead the way for them and the proper coach to bring out their best.
The process of choosing Thibs’ replacement will be long, but a list of contenders is already being formed that includes names like Kenny Atkinson, Mike Budenholzer, Patrick Ewing, Sam Cassell, and Cavs assistant coach Jonnie Bryant. It remains to be seen who will step up as the next coach for New York, but they are hoping that this one sticks around.
Thibs makes the fourth coach that the Knicks have fired in 10 years (2015), and fans are split on who should be the next one up. It’s just another thing the Knicks will have to figure out this offseason as they try to make a move that will raise their title odds.
