Knicks fire Thibodeau after deepest playoff run in 25 years

The New York Knicks announced on Tuesday the dismissal of head coach Tom Thibodeau, a decision that comes mere days after the team's commendable journey ended in a six-game defeat to longtime rivals, the Indiana Pacers, in the Eastern Conference finals. This move is particularly unexpected given that New York significantly exceeded expectations this season, advancing further than many anticipated with a revamped roster, notably dispatching the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round.

Thibodeau's tenure with the Knicks was marked by a remarkable resurgence for the franchise. Earlier this season, he surpassed legendary coach Pat Riley in franchise victories, solidifying his place as fourth on the Knicks' all-time wins list. Under his guidance, the team achieved consecutive 50-win seasons for the first time since 1995, establishing him as, by far, the club's most successful coach over the last two decades. His commitment to the organization was further cemented last summer when he signed a three-year contract extension.

"Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans," stated Team President Leon Rose in an official release. "This pursuit led us to the decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we've decided to move in another direction. We can't thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach... Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward. Tom will always be part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future."

Brunson publicly defended Thibodeau but...

Thibodeau's connection to the Knicks runs deep, tracing back to his time as an assistant coach under Jeff Van Gundy in the 1990s. His assistant, Rick Brunson, a former player on those Knicks teams, often brought his son, Jalen—now the franchise's superstar—to practices, forging a unique bond. After the Knicks' season-ending loss in Indiana, Jalen Brunson publicly defended Thibodeau's position, dismissing questions about his job security with a firm "Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he's the right guy? Yes. Come on."

The Knicks' impressive playoff performance, including their upset over the Celtics—a team they had lost to in all four regular-season encounters, with three of those being double-digit defeats—was notable given their overhauled lineup. The front office had made significant moves, including trading five first-round picks for Brooklyn wing Mikal Bridges, and dealing Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for All-NBA center Karl-Anthony Towns. These transactions, while potentially reducing depth, created one of the league's most formidable starting fives. Consequently, Thibodeau, renowned for playing his starters extensive minutes even in an era of "load management," leaned heavily on his core five, giving them more playing time than any other unit in the NBA.

The New York stint marked the veteran coach's third head coaching position in the NBA, following successful tenures with the Chicago Bulls (2010-15) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (2016-19). Thibodeau concludes his coaching career with a .579 career win percentage, a statistic that, according to ESPN Research, stands as the highest for any coach in NBA history without an NBA Finals appearance (minimum 300 games coached).