NYC mayoral candidate agrees with Knicks' Tom Thibodeau firing during debate
Aspiring New York City mayoral candidates mostly agreed that the New York Knicks were wrong for firing head coach Tom Thibodeau. Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake thought otherwise.
Eight candidates vying for the highest seat at City Hall participated in the Democratic Mayor Debate on Wednesday. During a rapid-fire "thumbs up, thumbs down" section of the debate, Thibodeau's dismissal was mentioned.
Advertisement
Joining Blake in the debate were Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie, Queens State Senator Jessica Ramos and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tillson.
While his opposition voted down the firing, Blake raised his thumb and said, "Our goal is to win the Finals, not to get to the Conference Finals."
Despite leading the Knicks to their first Conference Finals appearance in 25 years, Thibodeau was relieved of his duties. His dismissal came two days after they lost to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 30.
Advertisement
The Knicks had a strong season, finishing third in the East with a 51-31 record. The team took down the Detroit Pistons and dethroned the Boston Celtics both in six games before running into Indiana. The Pacers derailed what would have been the Knicks' first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 — a chance to compete for their first title since 1973.
As the Mayoral race continues, so does the Knicks' coaching search during the offseason. Micheal Malone, Mike Brown, Darvin Hamm and Jeff Van Gundy have all been linked to the vacancy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Reggie Miller's Reaction To Tyrese Haliburton's Game-Winner Against Thunder Goes Viral
Reggie Miller's Reaction To Tyrese Haliburton's Game-Winner Against Thunder Goes Viral originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Tyrese Haliburton sent the basketball world into a frenzy by hitting the game-winner for the Indiana Pacers against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Pacers icon Reggie Miller was watching the action unfold from his house with his family, and he shared their reaction to the game-winner on Instagram. Advertisement "I think this was all of Pacers Nation at the closing of Game 1!!! Well done, Tyrese Haliburton." That might have been the reaction for a majority of the neutrals following the game as well. It was a magical moment on the biggest stage by a player who is making a habit of hitting big shots in the playoffs. Haliburton has now made four go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final five seconds of regulation or overtime in this postseason. This fourth one was a long two-pointer over Thunder guard Cason Wallace that put the Pacers up 111-110 with 0.3 seconds remaining. It was their first lead of the night and would be the final score as well. Advertisement Prior to this, Haliburton had made the game-tying buzzer-beater at the end of regulation against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Miller was calling that game for TNT at Madison Square Garden, and Haliburton decided to pay tribute by recreating his iconic choke celebration after that shot. Haliburton thought he had won the game with a three-pointer, but realized later that his toe was on the line. The Pacers would go on to win in overtime, to spare his blushes. Miller certainly was a happy man that night, and he probably wishes he was calling the Finals as well. Getting to watch the games with his family and having moments like this is quite special, too, though. For his career, Haliburton has now made five go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final five seconds of regulation or overtime in the playoffs. That is tied with Miller for the second-most since the 1997 playoffs, with only LeBron James (eight) ahead of them. Advertisement It's safe to say that the Pacers have found their heir apparent to Miller. It will be interesting to see if Haliburton can pull off what Miller couldn't, which is to win the title. Miller led the Pacers to the 2000 NBA Finals, where they took on a Los Angeles Lakers team led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. They battled hard in that series but would ultimately lose in six games. Haliburton's Pacers have already done something that Miller's didn't. That team had fallen down 2-0 to the Lakers and never led in the series, while this one is up 1-0. Belief is growing among fans that this could be the year that they finally win their first NBA title. Miller and his family's reaction to this win isn't the only one that has gone viral. A clip of fans at Indianapolis International Airport going wild after Haliburton's shot spread like wildfire on social media. Sports can bring people together in a way that few things can. Seeing all these strangers celebrating together was quite special. They'd be hoping to celebrate again when the Pacers take on the Thunder in Game 2 at Paycom Center on Sunday at 8 PM ET. Advertisement Related: Dwyane Wade Thinks Tyrese Haliburton Is "A Cold Motherf****r" Like Allen Iverson After Game 1 Stunner In NBA Finals This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
32 minutes ago
- USA Today
What lessons can the Boston Celtics learn from the 2025 NBA Finals?
What lessons can the Boston Celtics learn from the 2025 NBA Finals? What lessons can the Boston Celtics learn from the 2025 NBA Finals? The Celtics find themselves in a position they are not often in over the course of the last several years, watching the postseason unfold after an early exit in the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals second round at the hands of the New York Knicks. In their stead, we have the Indiana Pacers taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the finals, with the Pacers having shocked the world by beating the Thunder in Game 1 of the series. What lessons are there for Boston to take away from this series, the teams that are playing in it, and the decisions and style of play that got them both there? The hosts of the CLNS Media "The Big Three NBA" podcast, A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani Lunis, took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk it over. Check it out below! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network:
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
"I know Dennis will not throw a punch. No way" - Phil Jackson was confident Dennis Rodman will never start a fight
"I know Dennis will not throw a punch. No way" - Phil Jackson was confident Dennis Rodman will never start a fight originally appeared on Basketball Network. As a true master in coaching, former Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson took it upon himself to assess what was waiting for his team, especially in the playoffs when the stakes were high. In the 1998 postseason, "The Zen Master" reviewed the performances of the Bulls' next possible opponents and noted the ugly brawl involving the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat. Advertisement In his mind, Phil already anticipated an intense and extremely physical series against either the Knicks or the Heat. Though the Bulls had a bad boy in Dennis Rodman, Jackson was confident that there wouldn't be a fight once the series started. "The Zen Master" knew well that Rodman was a much better player than everybody gave him credit for. With that in mind, Phil was certain "The Worm" would never start a fight. "I'm sitting in my office outside the United Center floor," the legendary coach recalled via ESPN. "It's quiet, and I'm thinking about what lies ahead. We saw how the Sonics and the Jazz came back from big deficits to advance, and we saw the energy the Knicks had when they beat the Heat." "And we know about the fight, but I did not talk about it with the team," Jackson continued. "I want our team to play with full effort, but not thoughtlessly. Dennis Rodman got tangled up with Vlade Divac, but I know Dennis will not throw a punch. No way. He knows what is at stake." Phil could see through Rodman For the better part of his Hall of Fame career, the two-time DPOY unapologetically embraced a rebellious and eccentric persona both on and off the court. Other coaches would surely be bothered and stressed by Dennis' wild antics, but not Coach Jackson. Advertisement For "The Zen Master," he recognized early on that Rodman was just living up to a specific character that greatly enjoyed the spotlight. Despite that, Jackson had always been confident that "The Worm" understood his role in the team, and he never let his teammates down. "It was stepping into character, a personality," Jackson said of Rodman in 2011 via "Finding his character was an influence of Madonna's." "He was a product of their system," the legendary coach added of Rodman. "In Detroit, the mantra was not to back down. He threw Scottie into the seats in '91. He was not a menacing guy, but he needed to be part of something." Related: "Ralph Sampson had all those same skills, but he wasn't permitted to take 3s" - Dominique Wilkins on whether Victor Wembanyama is a unique basketball player Wildly talented Despite being widely known for his wild and larger-than-life personality, Rodman was also a remarkably skilled player. His unpredictable antics have left a lasting impression on fans and teammates alike. Still, his undeniable talent and work ethic truly made "Dennis the Menace" unique. Advertisement Rodman consistently played intensely and at such a high level, particularly in rebounding and playing defense. Moreover, he also had the ability to stay productive in high-pressure and tense situations. Rodman's dedication to his craft showcased his talent and his passion for the game. Apart from Coach Jackson, many fans believe that "The Worm" has truly earned his rightful place in the pantheon of the all-time greats. Related: "We were a short team and didn't want long rebounds" - Phil Jackson on how deflating the ball gave the Bulls an edge This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
