After a historic yet tumultuous season that ended with a six-game Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers, the New York Knicks find themselves at a familiar crossroads, and the future of head coach Tom Thibodeau is squarely in the spotlight.
As reported by James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic, while Thibodeau has received strong public support from team president Leon Rose and star point guard Jalen Brunson, the decision on whether he remains at the helm ultimately rests with owner James Dolan, whose unpredictability casts a shadow over any assurance.
“The coach has the backing of team president Leon Rose, league sources said, as well as full buy-in from Brunson, who signed with the Knicks in 2022 in part because he wanted to play for Thibodeau. But ultimately, owner James Dolan is the final decision-maker.”
Thibodeau’s tenure in New York has undeniably lifted the franchise from obscurity. Since his hiring in 2020, the Knicks have reached the playoffs in four of five seasons, ended a seven-year postseason drought, and made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.
He also earned Coach of the Year honors in 2021 and oversaw the team’s deepest playoff run in 25 years. Yet, despite the accolades and progress, questions linger about whether he’s the right leader to take the team beyond its current ceiling.
Jalen Brunson, who signed with the Knicks in 2022 partly due to Thibodeau’s presence, didn’t hesitate to defend his coach after the Game 6 loss. “Is that a real question right now?” Brunson responded when asked if Thibodeau was still the right coach for this team. “Yes. Come on.”
Jalen Brunson believes Tom Thibodeau is still the “right guy” for the New York Knicks. pic.twitter.com/HW1ujcA0j3
— StatCentral (@TheStatCentral) June 1, 2025
His emphatic endorsement reflects the coach-player bond that’s been critical to the Knicks’ resurgence. League sources also confirm that Leon Rose remains behind Thibodeau, trusting his leadership and defensive principles.
Still, criticisms of Thibodeau’s methods continue to mount. Chief among them is his stubborn reliance on playing starters heavy minutes, even to the point of exhaustion. Mikal Bridges, who led the Knicks in minutes per game, voiced concerns about the physical toll during the regular season.
This approach, paired with Thibodeau’s slow adjustments such as sticking with a starting five that had a minus-6.2 net rating deep into the playoffs, has caused friction within the locker room.
It wasn’t until Game 3 against Indiana that Thibs altered the starting lineup, a move many felt came too late.
Internally, the Knicks were a complex mix of cohesion and conflict. While they organized multiple players-only meetings to re-align during the playoffs, those conversations were often triggered by poor communication, strategic breakdowns, and missed opportunities.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby were seen arguing on the bench during a pivotal Game 1 collapse, while doubts emerged over Towns’ defensive consistency and role clarity.
Despite all this, New York ended the season with 51 wins and eliminated both the Pistons and the defending champion Celtics.
That success speaks to Thibodeau’s structure and toughness, but the inconsistencies and the locker room’s “sacrifice” narrative suggest the foundation might be starting to crack.
With Thibodeau under contract through 2028 following a 2024 extension, the financial incentive is to stay the course. However, if Dolan believes this team has plateaued, a surprise move could be in play. For now, the coach remains, but the noise around his future grows louder with each missed opportunity.
