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Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Business
- Fox Sports
Knicks fire Tom Thibodeau: Next steps, potential replacements, trade targets
The coaching ranks have their latest victim, this time in the form of a beloved yet somewhat controversial figure named Tom Thibodeau, who led the New York Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years this postseason. It's a surprising move considering the Knicks are coming off of two seasons in which they won at least 50 games, and they went on to surpass expectations in the playoffs, knocking off the reigning champion Boston Celtics in the second round before falling to the Indiana Pacers in six games a few days ago. Thibodeau, who has been at the helm of the Knicks since 2020, transformed them from a team that missed the postseason seven seasons in a row into one that made the playoffs four times under his tenure. But when a celebrated franchise such as the Knicks comes close to reaching the mountaintop but falls short, including blowing a 14-point lead with under 3 minutes left in Game 1 of the Conference Finals, heads are going to roll – and Thibodeau is the first domino to fall. 1. Who are the candidates? Michael Malone Thibodeau isn't the only coach who seemingly got the rug pulled under him this season. Another surprising coaching move was made shortly before the playoffs began, when the Denver Nuggets fired their longtime coach with three games left in the regular season. Malone knows how to win. He led the Nuggets to an overall record of 471-327 during his 10 seasons at the helm, including seven straight playoff appearances and a championship in 2023. Not to mention, Malone is a New York native. Mike Budenholzer The Knicks clearly believe the franchise is close to being great, so it seems logical that they'd want someone with championship experience to help them take the next leap. Budenholzer is also available and fits that bill after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the championship in 2021. Budenholzer was fired as the Phoenix Suns coach after a stunningly disappointing regular season, in which his team had so much talent in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, yet greatly underperformed, failing to even reach the playoffs. But Budenholzer is a respected mind on both ends of the court and has a 520-363 record in 11 seasons as head coach. Jay Wright Even though Wright doesn't have any NBA coaching experience, this move could make a lot of sense. He was the head coach at Villanova from 2001-2022 and has strong ties to Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, who all played for the Wildcats. Wright led Villanova to two national championships in 2016 and 2018. Mike Brown The Sacramento Kings made waves when they fired Brown following a 13-18 start this season, despite him being named the unanimous Coach of the Year in 2023 and snapping a 16-year playoff drought that year. Brown is a defensive specialist who has been up for Knicks coaching gigs before. 2. Which players could benefit the most from a coaching change? The reason why the word "controversial" was used above in reference to Thibodeau is because he has drawn a lot of criticism for playing his starters heavy minutes. Bridges, who averaged 37 minutes a game in the regular season, acknowledged that was taking a toll on him in March. "Sometimes it's not fun on the body," Bridges told reporters. "But you want that as a coach, and also talked to him a little bit knowing that we've got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in and we don't need to play 48 [minutes], 47. " Thibodeau played his starting five much more than any other five-man group in the NBA. So, under a different coach, the starters could benefit from getting more rest, something that has been emphasized in recent years as an important measure to take to prevent injuries. Meanwhile, the reserves will get more of a chance to develop and prove themselves. That said, Brunson made it clear that he supported Thibodeau after the Knicks were eliminated from the Conference Finals when a reporter asked him if he had confidence in his coach. "Is that a real question right now?" Brunson asked. "Did you just ask me if I believe he's the right guy? Yes." 3. Should we expect a trade this offseason? In short, yes. The Knicks already proved that they were willing to make big moves to tweak their roster when they acquired Bridges over the summer and then made a blockbuster deal for Karl-Anthony Towns in the preseason. And now, their decision to fire Thibodeau after their best season in over a decade emphasizes that they're willing to take extreme measures to try to win a championship now. While the Knicks exceeded expectations this postseason, it needs to be noted that they beat a Celtics team that lost Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury. Not to mention, the Knicks were third this season behind Cleveland and Boston and were 0-8 against those teams. It seems obvious that the Knicks are going to be aggressive about making roster upgrades. The question is whether they will make minor changes to improve their depth or whether they will make an NBA-landscape-altering move, such as trying to acquire a superstar like Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo. Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, the Bay Area News Group and the San Antonio Express-News. Follow her on Twitter @ melissarohlin . recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Controversial TV Host Calls Out New York Knicks' Weakness
Pat McAfee is no stranger to hot takes and spouting nonsense, although the New York Knicks, for once, might want to listen to him. The former Indianapolis Colts' punter has adopted all of Indiana's pro sports teams, and is one of the national media's lone supporters of the Pacers as they take on the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Advertisement ESPN's panel of basketball experts overwhelmingly picked the Knicks to beat the Pacers in the series, although, as McAfee gleefully pointed out, the same panel was 0-for-22 when picking the winners of the East's second-round matchups. ESPN analyst Pat McAfee© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Knicks, between Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, certainly have the star power to beat the Pacers, although there are real concerns that Tom Thibodeau will run his team into the ground. The Pacers play fast and physical on both ends of the floor, and when their starters get tired, their second unit is more than capable of holding their own. Against the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pacers ran into injured teams whom they beat in five games. Last year, the Pacers had a fairly easy path to the Conference Finals as well, although McAfee thinks that might be by design. Advertisement "Everybody gets hurt against the Pacers," Pat McAfee said. "Everybody gets hurt. 'Oh, they're playing against hurt teams,' that's because they run their (expletive) out of the gym. They will run you out of the gym. That is the style that they play. Everybody talks about how lucky they get. It's like, what if the style that they play is actually a part of their strategy in making you not be able to keep up?" While the Knicks are known for the stellar play in the clutch from Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton has had his fair share of signature moments in the postseason, and Indiana's conditioning puts them in a ripe spot to upset the Knicks. "They're in great shape," McAfee continued. "They're seemingly more healthy than they were last year. They're confident. They're mature. They've been here before, last year with this entire thing.' Advertisement McAfee is a fan, and a biased one, not an analyst or expert like most of the talking heads who have picked the Knicks, although his point shouldn't be taken lightly if the Knicks want to win. It might be time for Thibs to switch things up. Check out the All Knicks home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Former New York Knicks Wing Requests Trade After Draft News Related: Final Injury Report For Pacers-Knicks ECF Game 1
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
The NBA world was stunned after the Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau
The NBA world was stunned after the Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau Forever Grateful 🧡💙 Thank You! — Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 3, 2025 The New York Knicks made a surprising decision, officialy shaking things up to find a new voice after moving on from head coach Tom Thibodeau. According to Charania, executives around the league were "stunned" about the move by New York. After he was hired by the franchise in 2020, he helped turn the team into a contender while navigating through various different roster shake-ups and blockbuster trades. Thibodeau, who was named 2021 NBA Coach of the Year, made the postseason in four of his five seasons with the organization. They also made their first appearance in the Conference Finals in 25 years. As the Knicks begin their search for his replacement, players and fans around the league reacted to the news. More: Tom Thibodeau didn't cost the Knicks a ring, but firing him makes sense I am a Tom Thibodeau fan. He brought this team back. I felt he gave every bit of himself and was always looking to improve. I will always be grateful for how far he brought the Knicks. They are relevant again. They are championship contenders again. The Knicks became winners… — Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 3, 2025 Thibs no doubt will always be a Knicks legend though — Wilson Chandler (@wilsonchandler) June 3, 2025 I agree with the Thibodeau firing even though I think he's largely done a good job in NY and even did a good job in the playoffs. But I think this group needs a better offensive system with more ball and player movement to reach the next level. — Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) June 3, 2025 Everyone says Thibs has a ceiling, but i have never seen a team have championship success after firing him. Had arguably his best season after a major trade the day before training camp? Alright! — Kazeem Famuyide 🇳🇬 🍎 (@Kazeem) June 3, 2025 Thanks for bringing us back to relevance, Coach Thibs. 🫡 — Sam Morril (@sammorril) June 3, 2025 major credit to Thibs for helping elevate the Knicks from a league-wide laughingstock when he first arrived to a legit contender by the time he left. He helped instill a serious, winning culture that has carried thru to this day — Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 3, 2025 - Took over team coming off 7 straight losing seasons - Made playoffs 4 out of 5 years - Won playoff series in 3 seasons - 1st Conference Finals in 25 years - 4th-most wins in Knicks history - 2020-21 Head Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau changed the Knicks. Don't forget that. — Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) June 3, 2025 Worth noting: Knicks owe Tom Thibodeau at least $30 million guaranteed on his recently-signed extension, per sources. Also worth noting: NYK won a playoff series in 3 straight years under Thibodeau: from 2001 to 2020, they won just 1 series. He built winning foundation here. — Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 3, 2025 The Knicks still owe Thibodeau quite a bit of money and he will leave the team in a much better place than he found it. But the front office felt that it was time for a change, which is exactly what will happen in New York.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Karl Anthony Towns' New Teammates Turn on Him After Playoff Exit
Just before the Minnesota Timberwolves started their 2024-25 NBA season, president Tim Connelly made big waves, trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and draft pick compensation. Interestingly enough, both the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves made it all the way to the Conference Finals, before falling short. The Knicks lost in six games to the Indiana Pacers. The Wolves in five games to the OKC Thunder. Advertisement As was the case during his time in Minnesota, Towns has been a controversial player in the Big Apple. Some love KAT, others can't stand him. An immensely talented basketball player, Karl-Anthony Towns' flaws have been consistent and constant for most of his career. New York Knicks annoyed with Karl-Anthony Towns On offense, Karl-Anthony Towns is capable of scoring at every level. He's one of the best shooting big men in NBA history. On the other side, KAT's constant whining to officials and inconsistencies on defense have continued to haunt him. It didn't take long for New York Knicks fans to grow tired of Karl's mannerisms and defensive deficiencies. But according to recent reports, his teammates weren't impressed with what they saw either. James Edwards and Fred Katz outlined the reality in a recent report for The Athletic. 'Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies. Behind the scenes, they and coaches expressed frustration with Towns' defensive habits — less concerned with his talent level and more with his process on that end. Too often, Towns executed incorrect coverages without communicating why he did it. After it became a theme, players worried Towns didn't grasp the importance of the matter.' The Athletic Advertisement In two of the four losses against Indiana, Towns posted plus-minus numbers of -20 and -17. It's an imperfect statistic on a single-game level, but defensive breakdowns and an inability to stop the Pacers scoring threats were evident for the New York big man. It's that effort, or lack thereof, that quickly lends itself to finger pointing. Towns did post a better 24.4 points per game this season, and his .42% three-point shooting was the second highest tally of his career. The effort and efficiency on the defensive end nullifies that performance in the locker room. Early trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns in New York It remains to be seen how the Knicks will build moving forward. They came up just short against the Indiana Pacers and won 51 games this season. Karl-Anthony Towns was a part of that, but could also quickly be seen as a problem. A trade of Towns is an eyebrow-raising suggestion from NBA Insider Kevin O'Connor. It's not that outlandish though. He is a tough player to build around, and there are major questions surrounding his ability to be a major contributor on an NBA Finals caliber team. Advertisement Head coach Tom Thibodeau already knew that from his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves though, so he must believe. For Towns to actually be moved, an acquiring team would need to swallow cap hits of $53 and $57 million the next two seasons. He also has a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 season, when he'll be 32 years old. Related: Orlando Magic Could Target Minnesota Timberwolves Guard These are the warts New York was going to take on with Towns when moving Randle and DiVincenzo. Minnesota has decisions to make on the players they brought in, but they are substantially less financially and motivationally impactful than what Towns has served up for the Knicks. Related Headlines
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Stupid idea'? Charles Barkley says 'Inside the NBA' hosts may have another show on TNT
Charles Barkley, right, says he and co-hosts Ernie Johnson, middle, Shaquille O'Neal, right, and Kenny Smith (not pictured) taped a 'pilot' that would run on TNT when they weren't on ESPN. (Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press) The "Inside the NBA" crew bid an emotional farewell on TNT over the weekend in what was said to be the show's final airing on that network before being licensed to ESPN starting next season. But was it really the last time viewers will see Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson together on TNT in that format? Advertisement Maybe not, based on comments Barkley made Monday on "The Dan Patrick Show." Before anyone gets too excited about the notion, however, know that Barkley introduced the topic by saying that "TNT is trying to do something stupid behind the scenes." He used the word "stupid" several more times to describe an idea he says is in the works for a show to air on TNT, separate from the one that is moving to ESPN/ABC, that also would have Barkley, O'Neal, Smith and Johnson discussing the NBA. Read more: Charles Barkley rips 'idiots' at ESPN, future home of 'Inside the NBA,' for saying 'Lakers saved the NBA' Advertisement "We taped a pilot about a month ago and it was the stupidest s— I've ever seen in my life," Barkley said. TNT did not respond to requests for comment for this article. ESPN declined to comment. When TNT was left out of the NBA media rights pact last summer with NBCUniversal, Walt Disney Co. and Amazon, it seemed inevitable that "Inside the NBA" would end its run after 35 years. But the popular show was given a lifeline months later. "ESPN, in partnership with TNT Sports and the National Basketball Association, announced today that it will exclusively present the iconic Inside the NBA studio show on its platforms starting with the 2025-26 regular season," ESPN said in a Nov. 18 press release. "TNT Sports will continue to independently produce Inside the NBA from its Atlanta-based studios over the term of the agreement. Advertisement Read more: TNT's 'Inside the NBA' will move to ESPN next year "The legendary Inside the NBA studio team will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including ESPN's pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs, all ABC games after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events." Barkley referred to that schedule while talking with Patrick. "We're not gonna be on ESPN as much as people think," Barkley said. "We're only probably gonna be working for ESPN like half the time to one-third of the time." Advertisement Barkley said that's where the idea of a separate show on TNT came from. "I guess they want to feel like they're doing something to make us earn our money from TNT,' he said. Read more: No more 'Inside the NBA'? Here are some of Chuck, Shaq, Kenny and Ernie's top moments Barkley said he thinks it's "a stupid idea for a couple reasons." 'Number one, we won't have basketball highlights [on TNT]," Barkley said. "But also, we're probably gonna be going up against an NBA game. And anybody who likes basketball ain't gonna say, 'Hey, you know what? Let me turn off an NBA game on Amazon, ESPN or NBC to go watch these four dudes sit around and talk about nothing.' So it's complicated. And like I say, we taped a pilot doing stupid stuff and it was just stupid stuff." Advertisement Barkley continued: "We can't show highlights, so we were sitting there for like an hour and a half taping this pilot, and we were looking at each other, 'What the hell are we doing?' But I give TNT credit. The first thing they said after the pilot [was], 'Yeah, that was really stupid. We gotta figure something out.'' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
