Rick Pitino shuts down Knicks coaching job speculation: ‘Absolutely not'
'Absolutely not,' Pitino said during Wednesday's Yankees-Guardians broadcast when asked about the Knicks' coaching vacancy.
'I think whoever comes in, if he doesn't get to the finals, it's going to be deemed an unsuccessful season,' said Pitino, who is a native of New York City. 'So, whoever comes in has got so much pressure on them to take this team to the next level.'
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The Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, just days after the team's first trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 25 years. Thibodeau posted a 226-174 record over five seasons, including a 51-31 mark this year. He went 24-23 in the playoffs with New York.
Pitino, 72, previously led the Knicks from 1987 to 1989, compiling a 90-74 record and making two playoff appearances. He just capped a stellar season at St. John's, guiding the Red Storm to a 31-5 record, their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2019, and their first Big East title since 2000. He also earned both national and Big East Coach of the Year honors.
Though his name surfaced in speculation, Pitino was never considered a serious candidate for the Knicks job. His focus remains on St. John's, which is expected to be a Big East favorite and likely begin the 2025-26 season ranked in the top five nationally.
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