It was a banner year for the New York Knicks, but they’re looking for a new head coach, anyway.
And according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, it was team president Leon Rose who made the decision to fire Tom Thibodeau after five seasons.
Rose is a former agent who also once represented Thibodeau. He became the Knicks’ head of basketball operations in 2020 and hired Thibodeau to coach the team. For whatever reason, Rose clearly believes the Knicks should have and can do better with someone new on the sideline.
New York is coming off a run to the Eastern Conference finals, where they succumbed to the Indiana Pacers in six games. For the record, it was the Knicks’ first appearance in the conference finals in 25 years.
They made the playoffs in four of Thibodeau’s five seasons. He also guided them to consecutive 50-plus win seasons for the first time since the 1990s.
“The Knicks are singularly focused on their pursuit of a championship and believe a new voice will serve as the focus for the organization’s next step, sources said,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote. “After five seasons with the Knicks, Tom Thibodeau is out as head coach.”
Thibodeau, 67, has served as head coach of the Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, compiling a 578-420 record in regular-season games. His teams are 48-55 in the playoffs.
While most NBA coaching vacancies have already been filled, Thibodeau undoubtedly will be in high demand once the next cycle of firings takes place.
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