NBA: Ex-Knicks coach Thibodeau says goodbye as team struggles to replace him
As the New York Knicks continue to hit roadblocks in their hunt for a head coach, the one they fired last week bid farewell to the team and fans on Wednesday.
Tom Thibodeau said his goodbyes in a full-page advertisement he took out in The New York Times, reflecting on his five seasons as head coach.
"To the best city in the world with the best fans in the world: Thank you," his message began.
His firing by team president Leon Rose came three days after a season-ending Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, the farthest the Knicks had advanced in the postseason in a quarter-century.
"When I was hired in 2020, I said this was my dream job. I am grateful that dreams became a reality. Thank you to our players and coaching staff who gave everything they had, and to everyone who makes this franchise special. I am proud of everything we accomplished together, including four playoff appearances and this year's run to the Eastern Conference finals -- our first in 25 years."
Where Rose goes from here to hire a coach remains to be seen.
Multiple outlets reported Wednesday that the Mavericks declined the Knicks' request to speak to Jason Kidd, who has a 179-149 record since being hired as head coach of Dallas ahead of the 2021-22 season. Kidd also led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals.
ESPN reported on Wednesday night that the Atlanta Hawks didn't give permission for the Knicks to talk with head coach Quin Snyder. Per the Chicago Sports Network, the Chicago Bulls did the same when New York asked about their coach, Billy Donovan.
Snyder, 58, went 40-42 in his second full season with the Hawks, who lost in the play-in tournament. Snyder became the head coach during the 2022-23 season and is a combined 86-99 in Atlanta.
He spent four seasons as an assistant before becoming head coach of the Utah Jazz for eight seasons (2014-15 to 2021-22). The Jazz were 372-264 in regular-season games during Snyder's tenure and went to the playoffs six consecutive years.
Snyder also coached the University of Missouri (1999-2006) and was 126-91 with four NCAA Tournament appearances in seven seasons.
Donovan, 60, was 39-43 with the Bulls last season and stands 195-205 through five years in Chicago. He also coached the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015-2020 and was 243-157.
A native of Long Island, N.Y., Donovan coached the University of Florida from 1996-2015 and went 467-186 while winning back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007. He also coached Marshall from 1994-96 and went 35-20.
Multiple reports Tuesday said the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets rejected the Knicks' requests to talk with their head coaches -- Chris Finch and Ime Udoka, respectively -- about the job.
Thibodeau, 67, compiled a 226-174 (.565) record in the regular season, including a 51-31 finish this season. He was 24-23 in the playoffs with New York.
In July 2024, Thibodeau signed a three-year extension through 2027-28 that was worth a reported $10-11 million per season.
Kidd signed a multiyear contract extension with Dallas in May 2024. — Field Level Media/Reuters
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