What lies ahead for the New York Knicks after the franchise made the decision to dismiss head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday?
Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since the year 2000. New York overcame the Detroit Pistons in the opening round and subsequently eliminated the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, in the second round, before ultimately being defeated by the Indiana Pacers in six games. Thibodeau concludes his period with New York having achieved 24 playoff victories, a number that is 17 more than the combined total of the team`s preceding 13 coaches, according to research conducted by ESPN.
Why was the decision made to remove Thibodeau at this time, and where might the front office look in its search for a replacement? Which prominent coaches could be potential candidates? And what further organizational changes might occur now that one of the most successful stretches in the franchise`s recent history has concluded without securing a championship, thereby extending the Knicks` championship drought to 52 seasons?
Our team of NBA analysts examines various perspectives regarding Thibodeau`s dismissal, including potential future steps for the 67-year-old coach.
Why Did the Knicks Fire Tom Thibodeau Now?
According to the principle of Occam`s Razor, when attempting to solve a problem, the simplest explanation is often the correct one.
In this particular situation, Thibodeau`s tenure in New York ended because of the initial sentence in the statement released by the Knicks concerning his firing: “Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans.”
Sources from around the league indicated that this was the reason for the change. The Knicks` leadership determined that a different voice was necessary to elevate the franchise to the next tier, despite Thibodeau having guided the team through their most successful run of play this century, including winning at least one playoff series in three consecutive seasons and reaching the conference finals for the first time in 25 years.
Following significant roster additions last summer, acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, New York sometimes appeared to be less impactful than the sum of its individual parts. The starting five, consisting of Bridges, Towns, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby, was outscored from January 1st through the end of the regular season and had a minus-31 point differential over more than 300 minutes in the playoffs.
Defense was occasionally problematic, particularly in the series against the Pacers in the conference finals. However, this was perhaps predictable given that Brunson and Towns were operating as the team`s primary ball-handler and center. New York could also benefit from attempting more three-pointers and adopting a quicker offensive tempo.
Many teams have previously made the same decision that New York has now. In some instances, such as when Steve Kerr replaced Mark Jackson with the Golden State Warriors in 2014 or when Nick Nurse took over from Dwane Casey with the Toronto Raptors in 2018, the change resulted in championships. In other cases, like when Adrian Griffin succeeded Mike Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks or when Fred Hoiberg replaced Thibodeau with the Chicago Bulls, the outcomes were significantly different.
— Tim Bontemps
Who Should the Knicks Consider for the Vacancy?
The most evident candidate is Michael Malone, who coached the Denver Nuggets to the 2022-23 title before his unexpected dismissal with only three games remaining in the regular season in April. Over the past eight seasons, Malone`s Nuggets held the best record among all Western Conference teams with 401 wins, surpassing the second-place LA Clippers by 28 victories, highlighting his consistent effectiveness as a coach. While Malone wouldn`t have Nikola Jokic in New York, his success in collaborating with offensive stars who have defensive vulnerabilities could make him a suitable match for the Knicks` current roster.
However, it is worth noting that the intense Malone shares a similar demanding style to Thibodeau, which might be a drawback if the Knicks` management prefers a different approach. If not Malone, both Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel have also won championships in the last decade, and their struggles managing the chaotic Phoenix Suns should not necessarily be held against them.
Ultimately, the Knicks possess the appeal to attract a wide range of candidates, as the prestige and spotlight of the job could draw interest from almost any coach that president of basketball operations Leon Rose wishes to interview. Could Jay Wright, who won NCAA championships with Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Mikal Bridges at Villanova, be persuaded out of retirement for his initial NBA coaching position? What about fellow two-time national champion Dan Hurley, who was linked to the Lakers job last summer before signing a new agreement with Connecticut?
All possibilities appear to be open for what is currently the most desirable coaching position in the NBA: leading a team that reached the conference finals this season, boasts genuine star power, competes in a relatively less challenging conference, and is located in the league`s largest market.
— Zach Kram
What Will the Knicks` Next Coach Need to Focus On?
Perhaps it became obvious after observing the conference finals, but a key challenge will be maximizing the effectiveness of a group that often has Brunson handling point-of-attack duties and Towns operating closer to the basket.
Neither player is particularly well-suited for these defensive responsibilities: Brunson is undersized on that end of the court, while Towns lacks top-tier lateral quickness and frequently commits unnecessary fouls that lead to him being sidelined at crucial moments.
Specifically in the series against the Pacers, the Knicks` defense was frequently stressed and out of position by Indiana`s strategy of forcing them into constant defensive rotations. “You can stop one action, but then it’s the next action, and the next action,” Josh Hart commented on the Pacers` game plan.
New York struggled to maintain defensive cohesion. In several instances, particularly in the Game 2 defeat, Towns appeared disoriented trying to keep up with Indiana`s fast-paced, spread-out offense. If this core group remains together next season, the new coach will need to consider potential adjustments to the starting lineup. Incorporating Mitchell Robinson could provide Towns with a strong rim protector behind him, similar to the role Rudy Gobert plays for the Timberwolves. Alternatively, perhaps another versatile wing defender could be brought in to help Bridges and Anunoby compensate for the defensive limitations of Towns and Brunson.
Regardless of the specific approach, improving the team`s defense seems likely to be a more significant undertaking than refining the offense.
— Chris Herring
Are There More Dominoes to Fall in New York?
There is a common saying in sports that suggests when a team is struggling, you can`t change all the players, so you change the coach. The Knicks` decision to fire Thibodeau is the latest instance of this.
A change in coaching leadership does not resolve the inherent flaws in New York`s roster, which were apparent throughout their 51-win season but became significantly exposed in the conference finals loss to Indiana. President Leon Rose and his front office have considerable work ahead to build a more capable bench unit than the one sparingly utilized by Thibodeau.
This season, the Knicks` reserves averaged the fewest minutes and points among all NBA teams, while the team`s starters averaged the second-highest points per game of any team since the 1986-87 season.
Acquiring effective role players could prove challenging for New York this offseason. Although the team`s two primary reserves, Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson, are under contract for the next season, New York`s available resources for free agency are limited to the veteran minimum exception and a portion of the $5.7 million tax midlevel exception. The Knicks will need to convince established veteran players to accept less money than they might receive elsewhere for the opportunity to compete for a championship.
Last summer`s trades to acquire Bridges and Towns left the Knicks with fewer draft assets and a top-heavy salary structure, which complicates the possibility of making more significant roster changes. New York possesses only one first-round draft pick available for trade over the next seven years, which is a 2026 first-round pick from Washington, protected for picks 1-8. Five players on the roster are projected to earn over $20 million next season: Towns, Anunoby, Brunson, Bridges, and Hart.
— Bobby Marks
What Is Thibs` Legacy in New York, and What Could Be Next for Him?
Thibodeau dedicated his career to reaching the point where he could take on this coaching role. As a native of Connecticut and a longtime Knicks supporter, Thibodeau fully understood all aspects of coaching the team, including the intense media scrutiny and the prominence that accompanies both success and failure.
Despite the immediate disappointment of losing the job, Thibodeau`s impact will likely be viewed with increasing appreciation over time. Before Thibodeau`s arrival, the Knicks had won only a single playoff series this century. Under his leadership, they achieved at least one series victory in each of the last three postseasons.
He successfully established an identity and a strong work ethic within the franchise, which resonated with the city and evoked memories of the team`s successful era in the 1990s, partly due to his previous role as an assistant coach under Jeff Van Gundy.
Regarding his future, Thibodeau was the oldest coach in the NBA during the 2024-25 season. He doesn`t always receive sufficient recognition for adapting to the modern game, largely because of his tendency to play his starters for extensive minutes.
Nevertheless, he has a long and proven history of improving teams and raising their performance levels, and it is difficult to imagine that his passion for coaching has diminished even slightly. This is particularly true following this successful run for the Knicks, which saw Thibodeau return to the conference finals for the first time since 2011, his inaugural season coaching the Chicago Bulls.
— Bontemps
