NEW YORK — The New York Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday simply days after their first journey to the Japanese Convention finals in 25 years.
The Knicks have been eradicated by the Indiana Pacers with a loss in Sport 6 on Saturday night time. They then determined to maneuver on from Thibodeau, who led them to the post-season in 4 of his 5 seasons in New York.
The choice was made by group president Leon Rose with approval from proprietor Jim Dolan, the particular person advised the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of no announcement had been made on the time.
“Our group is singularly centered on successful a championship for our followers,” Rose mentioned within the Knicks’ assertion on the change. “This pursuit led us to the troublesome choice to tell Tom Thibodeau that we have determined to maneuver in one other route.”
It is a unusual choice by the Knicks, who had been one of many league’s worst franchises for a lot of the 2000s till Thibodeau was employed in 2020. He promptly led the Knicks to the playoffs in his first season, successful his second NBA Coach of the 12 months award, and so they have been a stable contender within the East in latest seasons. They gave Thibodeau a three-year contract extension final summer season.
Their large breakthrough got here in 2024-25, once they knocked off defending champion Boston within the second spherical to achieve the convention finals for the primary time since 2000 — when Thibodeau was an assistant underneath Jeff Van Gundy.
After they have been eradicated Saturday, captain Jalen Brunson expressed his help for Thibodeau, bristling at a query about whether or not he believed the coach was proper for the group.
“Is that an actual query proper now?” Brunson mentioned. “You simply requested me if I imagine that he’s the suitable man. Sure. Come on.”
Three days later, Thibodeau was gone with a 226-174 report in New York. He has the fourth-most wins by a Knicks coach.
Thibodeau confronted criticisms that his hard-driving model and overreliance on his starters wore down his gamers, the identical ones which have adopted him for the reason that starting of his head teaching profession in Chicago. However his methods gave the impression to be working in New York.
The Knicks hadn’t gained a playoff sequence since 2013 however now have finished it in three straight seasons. They went 50-32 in 2023-24 and adopted that with a 51-31 report this season.
However the particular person mentioned the group felt there was a necessity for a brand new voice when the Knicks attempt once more to finish their prolonged championship drought. They gained their second and final title in 1973.
Thibodeau is effectively conscious of their historical past, having grown up as a Knicks fan in Connecticut earlier than becoming a member of the group as an assistant coach in 1996.
He went on to assist the Boston Celtics win the 2008 NBA title as an assistant, incomes a fame as one of many league’s high defensive minds, earlier than lastly getting an opportunity as a head coach with the Bulls in 2010-11. He went 62-20 in his first season, incomes his first Coach of the 12 months award.
Thibodeau, who spent 5 seasons with the Bulls and in addition coached Minnesota, is 578-420 as a head coach.
“we will not thank Tom sufficient for pouring his coronary heart and soul into each day of being the New York Knicks head coach,” Rose added. “He led us not solely with class and professionalism … but additionally to great success on the courth with ground playoff berths and 4 playoff sequence victories.
“Finally, we made the choice we really feel is finest for our group shifting ahead.”
— with information from Sportsnet Employees
