Tom Thibodeau did a great job in New York, changing the way the Knicks are considered teams and franchises. He helped change culture. But that wasn’t enough.
The New York Knicks went ahead with Tom Thibodeau, and here’s why
USA Today Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes explains why the Knicks chose to move on from head coach Tom Thibodeau after improving the franchise.
Sports Pulse
The New York Knicks just played in the first NBA Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.
They spent their second consecutive 50-win seasons, their first time since 1993-1994 and 1994-95.
Tom Thibodeau took over the team that won 21 games in 2019-20. He scored a 41-31 record in his rookie campaign, following the 37-45, 47-35, 50-32, and 51-31 seasons.
The Knicks were close to Game 7 in the East Finals this season and weren’t too far from playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
However, the Knicks didn’t have Game 7 and did not appear in the NBA Finals. And now there are no more Thibodeaux.
The Knicks cut ties with Thibodeau on Tuesday, June 3rd.
“Our organization is focused on winning a fan championship,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. “This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to let Tom Thibodeau know that we had decided to move in a different direction.”
It proves an axiom: every coach has a best-by date.
And it proves the inherent truthism of Thibodeau. His expiration date with the team has not exceeded five seasons.
He went on to just five seasons with the Chicago Bulls despite five playoff appearances, including one spot in the East Finals.
He only had three seasons with the Minnesota Timber Wolves.
And now he’s finished in New York after three consecutive playoff appearances.
I can’t wait to hear Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who heads the National Association of Basketball Coaches, talk about Thibodeau’s firing when he met with the media on the availability of the Finals in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, June 4th.
Thibodeau did a great job and changed the way the Knicks were considered teams and franchises. He helped change culture. There are some things that seem incorrect about this shooting, but it is also the business of professional sports. And the decisions made by Rose and his staff may not be wrong either.
Like the Bulls and Timberwolves before, the Knicks front office believes New York needs another coach to get them one step closer to the title. It is the first since 1973.
Thibodeau is a great coach and knows XS and OS. He has been in the NBA since 1989. He has been a head coach for the past 13 years. But a game one fiasco over the Pacers – New York couldn’t stop Indiana’s run when the Knicks waste a 115-101 lead at 4:06 in the fourth quarter and lost 138-135 in overtime.
It’s not uncommon for teams to need new voices and approaches to reach the next level. A more agile person. Steve Kerr replaced Mark Jackson in Golden State, and Ty Lou took over to Cleveland’s David Bratt.
What direction is it for the Knicks? The franchise has deep connections with the creative artist agency, and Rose was a well-known CAA agent before he worked for the Knicks. If the Knicks are stuck with someone in the CAA, no one would be surprised.
Michael Malone is a name to watch. Malone is a championship coach and led Denver to the title in 2023, coaching stars and is a New York native. He was a high school coach at the famous Power Memorial Academy, whose father Brendan was born in Queens when Kareem Abdul Jabber performed.
Anyone who gets a job has a clear message: win the title. Or if not.
Follow NBA columnist Jeff Zillgitt on social media @jeffzillgitt
