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The New York Knicks will be on the lookout for a new head coach this offseason following the departure of Tom Thibodeau. The team announced that Thibodeau has been relieved of his coaching responsibilities just days after their elimination from the Eastern Conference Finals.
The decision to part ways with Thibodeau was described by the Knicks as a “challenging choice,” deemed necessary for their aspirations of winning a championship.
“Tom has our deepest gratitude for his unwavering commitment and dedication during his time as head coach of the New York Knicks. He not only led with integrity and professionalism over the last five seasons but also achieved significant success, securing four playoff appearances and winning four playoff series,” team president Leon Rose stated.
“In the end, we believe this decision is in the best interest of our organization as we move ahead. Tom will always hold a place in our Knicks family, and we genuinely wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors.”
The change was made by Rose with the consent of owner Jim Dolan, according to a source who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press since this detail was not included in the official announcement.
Last season, Thibodeau guided the Knicks to a 51-31 record, helping the team to a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division and securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks triumphed over the Detroit Pistons 4-2 in the first round and defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals before falling to the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the Conference Finals.
Throughout his five seasons with the Knicks, Thibodeau achieved playoff qualification in four of them and was rewarded with a three-year contract extension just last summer. His overall record with the Knicks stands at 226-174, with his most successful season being 2024-25.
The Knicks made significant moves to pursue the NBA championship by trading for Mikal Bridges in the summer and Karl-Anthony Towns in a high-profile preseason deal, enhancing their lineup, which is led by Jalen Brunson.
Despite their ambitious efforts, these roster adjustments did not enable them to reach the championship goal.
The Knicks’ elimination by the Pacers on Saturday extended their championship drought to 1973. However, after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, they have a sense of progress.
Although the Boston Celtics, who won the title in 2024 and kept their core intact, were seen as the favorites in the East, the Knicks, under Rose’s leadership since 2020, were determined to compete.
They signed OG Anunoby to the richest contract in franchise history and traded five first-round picks to acquire Bridges from the Nets. Just before the training camp, they traded two starters—All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who had recently broken the team’s single-season three-point record—to bring in Towns from Minnesota.
These strategies helped the Knicks surpass the Celtics in the second round. However, their roster was not adequate against the depth and speed of the Pacers, who eliminated them for a second consecutive year.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks appeared to regroup by expanding their rotation and adopting a large lineup.
“We make moves to win, so it’s disappointing not to bring a championship opportunity to the city,” star player Karl-Anthony Towns remarked. “We have a great group in the locker room, and our focus now is to position ourselves to succeed in the future.”
Following their elimination, team captain Jalen Brunson expressed clear support for Thibodeau, reacting strongly to a question asking if he believed the coach was right for the team.
“Is that really a question?” Brunson replied. “Of course, I believe he’s the right guy. Come on.”
Despite criticism regarding his intense coaching style and dependence on starters, which have followed him since his early days in Chicago, Thibodeau’s methods had yielded positive results in New York.
His tough demeanor resonated with fans at Madison Square Garden, who yearned for the defense-first success reminiscent of the 1990s.
“I’m a fan of Tom Thibodeau. He revitalized this team,” actor Ben Stiller wrote on X, watching the playoffs from a courtside seat. “His commitment and continual drive for improvement were invaluable. I will always appreciate how far he brought the Knicks. They are back in the conversation. They are contenders again.”
Thibodeau previously assisted in leading the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA title, establishing himself as a highly regarded defensive strategist before becoming head coach of the Chicago Bulls in the 2010-11 season. He had a stellar debut, finishing with a 62-20 record that earned him his first NBA Coach of the Year honor.
Having coached for five seasons with the Bulls and later in Minnesota, Thibodeau owns a coaching record of 578-420.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
