Worldwide Wes Pinning At Least Part Of Knicks’ Issues On Tom Thibodeau

Knicks executive vice president William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley is laying part of the blame for the team’s struggles on coach Tom Thibodeau, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.

Wesley has been expressing his viewpoints on Thibodeau in conversations with Knicks owner James Dolan, sources told Begley.

As an aside, Thibodeau appears to be upset that the Knicks stood pat at the trade deadline, failing to make a single deal despite some uneven play this season. The Knicks blew a 28-point lead to lose to the Nets on Wednesday.

So there may be a rift between the front office and coach, and just one season following a Knicks playoff appearance and a bunch of good vibes.

“Since he came on as coach, Thibodeau has been consulted on personnel moves. Some people who have done business with the team in the past year believe Wesley and Brock Aller – the club’s vice president of basketball and strategic planning — have significant input on team decisions,” Begley wrote. “Thibodeau’s opinion is considered, they say, but management has made several significant personnel decisions that didn’t align with Thibodeau’s thinking.”

Knicks president Leon Rose, a former CAA agent, hired Thibodeau in 2020. Rose, Thibodeau and Wesley have supposedly been tight for years.

But as the Knicks have started to crumble, questions about Thibodeau are bound to arise.

“Wesley’s criticism of Thibodeau suggests that the coach and management are not on the same page,” RealGM wrote.

Thibodeau, 64, has compiled a 66-65 record with the Knicks. He is 418-311 overall in 10 seasons coaching the Bulls, Timberwolves and Knicks, with his best season being his first as head coach, leading Chicago to a 62-20 record in 2010-11.

“It would be understandable if the front office wasn’t pleased with the coach, as his rotations and lineups haven’t produced desired results,” wrote Zach Braziller of the New York Post.