Tom Thibodeau may no longer be the head coach of the New York Knicks, but it turns out he is still watching closely. And judging by a brief, telling moment on social media, he might not be thrilled with what he is seeing.
During the Knicks’ ugly 121-90 loss to the Detroit Pistons, longtime Knicks fan and content creator Dylan Backer summed up what many were thinking with one blunt post on X:
“It is absolutely stunning to me that a team that has OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Mitchell Robinson, and Deuce McBride all play significant minutes can’t defend.”
Moments later, Tom Thibodeau reposted the tweet on his own feed. Not long after, it disappeared, but that brief repost said plenty.
Thibs has entered the chat 👀 pic.twitter.com/zXtaCdAHXr
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 6, 2026
Whether intentional or instinctive, it read like a shot of the Knicks’ current defensive identity under Mike Brown, the man hired to replace Thibodeau in the offseason. And given Thibodeau’s reputation as one of the league’s most defense-obsessed coaches, the timing could not have been more loaded.
Last season, Thibodeau guided the Knicks to a 51–31 record and a third-place finish in the East. They ranked fifth in offensive rating, 13th defensively, and eighth in net rating. More importantly, they reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in over 25 years. That run cemented Thibodeau as the most successful Knicks coach of the modern era, posting a 226–174 record and restoring credibility to a franchise long defined by dysfunction.
Yet he was fired anyway.
Owner James Dolan later explained the move as a philosophical shift. The organization wanted more collaboration, more development, and a modernized approach. Thibodeau, Dolan said, was more of a ‘lone wolf’ and less aligned with where the franchise wanted to go long term. Enter Mike Brown.
On paper, the transition has not been disastrous. The Knicks sit third in the East at 23–13, have already won the NBA Cup, and rank fourth in offensive rating. But defensively, the drop-off has been noticeable. They are 17th in defensive rating, despite having nearly the same core that once prided itself on toughness, rotations, and effort.
This Knicks roster is loaded with defensive talent. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are elite wing stoppers. Mitchell Robinson provides rim protection. Miles McBride is a ball-pressure menace. Even last season, when the Knicks were not an elite regular-season defense statistically, they flipped the switch in the playoffs. This year, that edge has been missing.
The loss to the Pistons made it impossible to ignore. Cade Cunningham carved the Knicks apart with 29 points and 13 assists in a 121–90 blowout. The Pistons dominated the paint, controlled the glass, and turned a competitive first quarter into a rout. The Knicks’ defense looked disconnected, slow to rotate, and oddly passive.
The repost, even though deleted, felt like a reminder. Thibodeau built this team’s defensive foundation. He drilled habits into them. And now, watching from the outside, he seems to be wondering how a group this well-equipped can look so ordinary on that end of the floor.
It also highlights the uncomfortable truth facing the Knicks. While Brown has unlocked more offensive fluidity, the trade-off has been defensive identity. Thibodeau’s teams were not always pretty, but they were reliable. You knew what they stood for. This version of the Knicks, right now, feels less certain.
One repost does not mean open warfare. Thibodeau is not campaigning for his old job. But in one quiet click and quick delete, he may have voiced what many around the league are starting to ask.
How does a team with this much defensive personnel look like it does not care enough about defense?
That question, more than the standings, might define the Knicks’ season.
