New York Knicks Shockingly Fire Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, Days After ECF Appearance
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The New York Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau after reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.
As per the latest reports, the New York Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, just days after their first trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 25 years.
The Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 on Saturday night. Subsequently, the team decided to part ways with Thibodeau, who had led them to the postseason in four of his five seasons in New York.
The decision was made by team president Leon Rose with approval from owner Jim Dolan, the source told the AP on condition of anonymity as no official announcement had been made. ESPN first reported the firing.
This move by the Knicks is surprising, considering the team's poor performance in the 2000s until Thibodeau was hired in 2020.
He immediately led the Knicks to the playoffs in his first season, winning his second NBA Coach of the Year award, and they have been strong contenders in the East in recent years. Thibodeau received a three-year contract extension last summer.
Their major breakthrough came in the 2024-25 season, when they defeated the defending champion Boston in the second round to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2000, when Thibodeau was an assistant under Jeff Van Gundy.
After their elimination on Saturday, captain Jalen Brunson voiced his support for Thibodeau, responding sharply to a question about the coach's suitability for the team.
'Is that a real question right now?" Brunson said. 'You just asked me if I believe that he's the right guy. Yes. Come on."
Three days later, Thibodeau was dismissed, finishing his tenure with a 226-174 record in New York. He holds the fourth-highest number of wins by a Knicks coach.
Thibodeau faced criticisms throughout his career for his intense coaching style and heavy reliance on his starters, issues that surfaced during his time in Chicago but seemed effective in New York.
The Knicks hadn't won a playoff series since 2013 but managed to do so in three consecutive seasons. They achieved a 50-32 record in 2023-24, followed by a 51-31 record this season.
However, according to AP, the source indicated that the organization felt the need for a new direction as they continue to aim to end their long-standing championship drought, with their last title win in 1973.
(with agency inputs)
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Siddarth Sriram
First Published:
June 04, 2025, 01:38 IST
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