Tyronn Lue has never been shy about speaking his mind, and when asked about the New York Knicks’ shocking decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau, he was left dumbfounded. Appearing on Club Shay Shay, the Los Angeles Clippers coach didn’t hold back, calling the move one of the most confusing coaching changes he’s ever seen.
“Hell no. I mean, it’s the first time you’ve been to the conference finals in 25 years. And so the city was on fire. The fans were on fire. The players did a hell of a job, and Thib did a hell of a job.”
“And so to take a team, the first they’ve been in 25 years, and then get fired, it just don’t make sense. You know, and so for me, like I said, I thought Thib did a great job, but you never know the inside of what’s going on with the organization.”
“But I mean, everywhere he’s been, he wins everywhere. Chicago, Minnesota, Knicks, every team he’s been on, he’s gotten better, you know? And so to do that, I thought it was, I mean, I thought it was crazy.”
The numbers back up Lue’s sentiment. Thibodeau took over the Knicks in 2020 when the franchise was fresh off years of lottery irrelevance. In five seasons, he led New York to consistent playoff appearances, built a tough, defensive-minded culture, and restored Madison Square Garden’s status as one of the league’s premier stages.
His crowning achievement came this past season, when the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Though they ultimately lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games, the run rekindled belief in New York basketball.
That’s why his dismissal came as such a shock. Reports suggested owner James Dolan led the charge on the firing after a few player concerns were raised about Thibodeau’s heavy workload on stars.
It has long been his reputation, pushing his top players for big minutes and demanding maximum effort night after night. While that style produced wins, some in the Knicks’ locker room reportedly questioned its sustainability.
Still, the timing was head-scratching. Thibodeau had signed an extension just a season earlier, meaning the Knicks will pay him $30 million as part of his buyout. Replacing him with Mike Brown, who was introduced shortly after, signals a major philosophical shift for a team that was just beginning to feel like a true contender.
For Lue, the decision highlights the sometimes-murky dynamics between organizational politics and on-court success. Lue noted Thibodeau’s record of building playoff-caliber squads in Chicago, Minnesota, and New York. While not every stop ended with a championship, his impact was undeniable.
Knicks fans share Lue’s confusion. Social media lit up with debates about whether the franchise had once again sabotaged itself just as momentum was building. For a fanbase that waited a quarter century for a return to the conference finals, the firing left more questions than answers.
