Tom Thibodeau didn't cost the Knicks a ring, but firing him makes sense

USA Today

4 days ago

Tom Thibodeau didn't cost the Knicks a ring, but firing him makes sense
Knicks basically decide Thibs is Buck Showalter. https://t.co/JzbpH0LHpo — Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) June 3, 2025
This is my Good Will Hunting moment for Tom Thibodeau, who was stunningly fired just days after the New York Knicks fell short of the NBA Finals: it's not your fault.
No, it wasn't Thibs' fault that the Knicks couldn't keep up with the high-octane Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. He was given the right team on paper to compete for a championship, from do-it-all wing Josh Hart to a superstar in Jalen Brunson to an All-NBA caliber Karl-Anthon Towns.
But when a team looks like a contender on paper and falls short? Maybe it's time for another mind to take what could be and bring it to its full potential.
I know that hearing this coming from a Knicks fan is going to sound a little ridiculous, and in NO WAY am I trying to compare the Knicks to a generational team that has won multiple titles ... BUT!
This feels like the time the Warriors fired Mark Jackson, only to replace him with ... Steve Kerr.
A team that had just fallen short in the playoffs in back-to-back years had it all on paper, but it needed another coach to get it to the next level.
That's what this firing is -- less of a knock on Thibs, who was beloved by fans and players for giving this team the snarl and defensive mindset it needed to get to within a couple of wins of a title shot.
Sure, there were warts there -- he played his starters way too much, grinding them down throughout the year, although the Knicks' depth wasn't the best. And for a coach known for his defensive mindset, it was the defense that suffered as the Pacers dismantled them both on fast breaks and in halfcourt situations where you'd see a wide open shot a lot.
But maybe there's someone else who can unlock what needs to be fixed. Because the bones of the roster are those of a contender who a new coach can look at and figure out what role Mikal Bridges needs to play, or how to get KAT to lock in better defensively.
Sometimes, teams need a change at the top, even those that came away with what any fan would call a successful season.
Thanks for everything, Thibs. If the Knicks win a ring after you're gone, you deserve a lot of credit for getting this team this far.