The NBA world was stunned after the Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau
The NBA world was stunned after the Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau
Forever Grateful 🧡💙 Thank You! https://t.co/a81D5SST1d — Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 3, 2025
The New York Knicks made a surprising decision, officialy shaking things up to find a new voice after moving on from head coach Tom Thibodeau.
According to Charania, executives around the league were "stunned" about the move by New York. After he was hired by the franchise in 2020, he helped turn the team into a contender while navigating through various different roster shake-ups and blockbuster trades.
Thibodeau, who was named 2021 NBA Coach of the Year, made the postseason in four of his five seasons with the organization. They also made their first appearance in the Conference Finals in 25 years.
As the Knicks begin their search for his replacement, players and fans around the league reacted to the news.
More: Tom Thibodeau didn't cost the Knicks a ring, but firing him makes sense
I am a Tom Thibodeau fan. He brought this team back. I felt he gave every bit of himself and was always looking to improve. I will always be grateful for how far he brought the Knicks. They are relevant again. They are championship contenders again. The Knicks became winners… — Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 3, 2025
Thibs no doubt will always be a Knicks legend though — Wilson Chandler (@wilsonchandler) June 3, 2025
I agree with the Thibodeau firing even though I think he's largely done a good job in NY and even did a good job in the playoffs. But I think this group needs a better offensive system with more ball and player movement to reach the next level. — Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) June 3, 2025
Everyone says Thibs has a ceiling, but i have never seen a team have championship success after firing him. Had arguably his best season after a major trade the day before training camp? Alright! pic.twitter.com/E2E7LOd9er — Kazeem Famuyide 🇳🇬 🍎 (@Kazeem) June 3, 2025
Thanks for bringing us back to relevance, Coach Thibs. 🫡 — Sam Morril (@sammorril) June 3, 2025
major credit to Thibs for helping elevate the Knicks from a league-wide laughingstock when he first arrived to a legit contender by the time he left.
He helped instill a serious, winning culture that has carried thru to this day — Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 3, 2025
- Took over team coming off 7 straight losing seasons
- Made playoffs 4 out of 5 years
- Won playoff series in 3 seasons
- 1st Conference Finals in 25 years
- 4th-most wins in Knicks history
- 2020-21 Head Coach of the Year
Tom Thibodeau changed the Knicks. Don't forget that. pic.twitter.com/Orv7c2fv6O — Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) June 3, 2025
Worth noting: Knicks owe Tom Thibodeau at least $30 million guaranteed on his recently-signed extension, per sources. Also worth noting: NYK won a playoff series in 3 straight years under Thibodeau: from 2001 to 2020, they won just 1 series. He built winning foundation here. — Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 3, 2025
The Knicks still owe Thibodeau quite a bit of money and he will leave the team in a much better place than he found it.
But the front office felt that it was time for a change, which is exactly what will happen in New York.
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