Breaking: Tom Fired

[GONYK]

So we have no evidence that he can be creative offensively?

He's never coached an offense, so I don't know where the evidence would come from.

How do we know that he wasnt behind offensive schemes as an assistant?

Now you're entering the land of conjecture and projection, which is my point.

[Knick4Real]

If Bryant is struggling to get the Suns job over another coach, is that an indictment on him? Didn't he also struggle to become a HC last off-season? (Associate HC is a bit different)

He could've also turned down or removed himself from the the Suns' job instead for the Knicks, because it went from him being a finalist, to Tom Thibodeau being fired, to the Suns hiring the next head coach a day later.

Since Bryant was already being groomed to take over for Thibs one day while he was here (by serving as the "associate" coach and not just an assistant), my bet is that he will be our next coach.

[Context]

Man, I wonder how Brunson feels. He gave up a lot of dollars to continue this ship. They traded away DDV, let go of Thibs and possibly his dad won't comeback.

Leon is Jalen's godfather. Brunson has been bred for this.

[Context]

If Bryant is struggling to get the Suns job over another coach, is that an indictment on him? Didn't he also struggle to become a HC last off-season? (Associate HC is a bit different)

He could've also turned down or removed himself from the the Suns' job instead for the Knicks, because it went from him being a finalist, to Tom Thibodeau being fired, to the Suns hiring the next head coach a day later.

Since Bryant was already being groomed to take over for Thibs one day while he was here (by serving as the "associate" coach and not just an assistant), my bet is that he will be our next coach.

oh really now? Is this a fact?

[Context]

He's never coached an offense, so I don't know where the evidence would come from.

How do we know that he wasnt behind offensive schemes as an assistant?

Now you're entering the land of conjecture and projection, which is my point.

I see...
Let me do some digging on Bryant see what I can find...

[Capn'O]

How do ya'll know that everything you guys are giving Bryant credit for with Cleveland isn't really Ott?

More to the point, a lot of great assistants don't become great HCs. Cough Fizdale. But there are also a lot of cases of it working. Bryant seems smart and like he has great player relations. If we pick him we'll just have to find out what his HC abilities are.

Here are the only 3 facts we know about Johnny Bryant as a potential coach:

1. He's worked for the Knicks before
2. He's best friends with Donovan Mitchell
3. Obi and IQ really liked him (speaks to relationship/development)

Everything else is complete and total conjecture and projection. To be honest, #1 might be the only thing that matters, since Leon and Co know him, but #1 might have only happened because of #2.

I would add that he communicates the game really well on video. Generally, he seems like a good communicator. That's an asset. But a lot of coaches do that and aren't HC material. It's just a piece of it.

[Context]

Coaching career
Bryant started coaching at the Bryant Sports Academy, a skill development program through which he worked with athletes of all ages, including former Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap and Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard.[4]

On September 25, 2012, Bryant was hired by the Utah Jazz as a player development assistant.[4] On June 24, 2014, he was promoted to assistant coach under head coach Quin Snyder.[5]

On September 4, 2020, Bryant was named the associate head coach of the New York Knicks.[6]

In July 2024, Bryant was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers as associate head coach.[7]

[SelbyCobra]

The idea that they should be careful about firing Thibs because "the next guy might be worse" is false to me.

From my perspective, nothing would be worse for a team with Championship aspirations than bringing back a stubbornly dogmatic coach who has never been to a Finals much less won a championship, is the oldest coach in the NBA, and has exited all four playoff appearances with the Knicks losing a series in which his team was the favorite. This includes the latest season in which he got further than he ever has, but also had what was probably the easiest path to a Finals we'll see and still couldn't capitalize.

So if the next hire doesn't get them to a Championship, or in a worst case scenario ends up being a catastrophe, it still isn't worse to me than locking into an inflexible and exploitable, non-Championship level coach, while we clearly have players/pieces that are capable of being in the mix for a title with the right handling and breaks.

But yeah, while I disagree that there needed to be a definitively better coach than Thibs available before firing him (literally any reasonable choice is better than him to me at this point, because the conversation is exclusively about not getting outfoxed in the playoffs - not about regular season wins and seeding - and he has proven to be a inadequate in that regard), I am in total agreement about being nervous about them getting the actual selection right. There is a championship contention window that is WIDE OPEN at this point, and they just need the right guy to steward them through it.

[thebuzzardman]

How do we know that he wasnt behind offensive schemes as an assistant?

Now you're entering the land of conjecture and projection, which is my point.

I see...
Let me do some digging on Bryant see what I can find...

Here's some Reddit opinions

SnooGoats7815
•
3h ago
He worked with Snyder on the jazz who is heavily influenced by European style ball (motion, passing, generous offense, moving off the ball, etc). He also was a sniper from 3 in college and clearly understands the important of the 3, something Thibs doesn’t get. He’s been extremely integral in the development of multiple now and former star players (Brunson, Gordon Hayward, Donovan Mitchell, etc). He’s gonna have a far more progressive and complex offense, and likely will be able to maximize our players in a way Thibs never could, and won’t be nearly as stubborn. He’s also way more personable and he’s already familiar with our guys. These are all things we already kinda know about him. And everywhere he’s gone he’s been apart of very successful teams

TDM_11
•
21h ago
The NBA today prioritizes offense, moving towards a new direction with a focus on young coaches who bring fresh ideas. E.g Will Hardy, Mark Daigneault, JJ Redick, Joe Mazzulla

He is already familiar with our players and is regarded as a players' coach, with Donovan Mitchell advocating for him to join the Cavs coaching staff.

Understands what it means to be part of a good team, having come from teams with strong culture, including Quin Snyder at Utah, as well as our team and the Cavs.

scosher
•
22h ago
He was an assistant coach for us with Thibs since 2020 to 2024, so he knows our players and they know him. He has been well respected around the league and players have previously credited their growth to him, including Donovan Mitchell. Wherever he's gone, teams have had remarked change to their offensive systems, Cleveland Cavs being the latest example last season with the exact same personnel -- how much this is attributed to Bryant or Atkinson or someone else, who knows...but success is following him throughout his career.

His videos show that he espouses modern NBA offensive systems and floor spacing. Thibs played our only true 5-out lineup (replacing McBride with Hart in the starting lineup) a total of like 110 minutes the entire season and playoffs...I would bet Bryant would at least give that more run.

Basically he's young, has respect of players, appears and sounds knowledgeable of the game, and has been a positive addition to coaching staffs wherever he goes.

Still random opinions though

[Knick4Real]

He could've also turned down or removed himself from the the Suns' job instead for the Knicks, because it went from him being a finalist, to Tom Thibodeau being fired, to the Suns hiring the next head coach a day later.

Since Bryant was already being groomed to take over for Thibs one day while he was here (by serving as the "associate" coach and not just an assistant), my bet is that he will be our next coach.

oh really now? Is this a fact?

Not sure if you're joking or not, but in case you're not, it is a fact.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:
On September 4, 2020, Bryant was named the associate head coach of the New York Knicks.

In July 2024, Bryant was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers as associate head coach.

[thebuzzardman]

5 year old article on Bryant

https://www.thestrick.land/strick/measured-portrait-johnnie-bryant-knicks

[HEZI]

What’s ironic is Bryant was assistant to Thibs who lost to Pacers last year, assistant to Atkinson this year who lost to Pacers in 2nd round and he would be replacing Thibs who lost to Pacers in the ECF

Is he supposed to be the solution to us overcoming the Pacers?

Kidding but serious

[Context]

Watch on YouTube

[sol537]

Dan Hurley. That’s my choice and he’s been my choice since last year when he considered the Lakers job.

He did a great job at CT and he has an incredible basketball mind. He’s super passionate about the game and he’s at a good age to lead us for a decade if necessary.

College coaches not all don’t do well in the NBA except for guys like Larry Brown and Brad Steven’s and a few others but I’d take my chances with Hurley. I think he was born for the Knicks coaching job.

Look at the way his CT teams played and dominated. Listen to his podcast interviews where he goes deep into game analysis. He’s the real deal IMO.

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thebuzzardman]

What’s ironic is Bryant was assistant to Thibs who lost to Pacers last year, assistant to Atkinson this year who lost to Pacers in 2nd round and he would be replacing Thibs who lost to Pacers in the ECF

Is he supposed to be the solution to us overcoming the Pacers?

Kidding but serious

Well, he wasn't the actual coach, for good or bad.

I think ultimately it's a players league, and all the coaches are really good, with a handful of true difference makers, good and bad.

I think Thibs is a borderline difference maker, in that he makes certain situations better but not all. Meaning, he's more Rivers than Pop or Spo, for instance.

I think the Knicks are looking for a coach who is good (like Thibs was) but that they need a different voice.

It might work out, it might not.
Thibs was really good and I wanted the Knicks to win a chip with him, but he's not the be all end all of NBA coaches.
It's also not a trivial thing to find someone as good (but different) or better.

[8516knicks]

espN: Suns hiring Cavs assistant Jordan Ott as head coach --- Looks like HERE'S Johnny Bryant!

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUVa3VicmljayBoZXJlJ3Mgam9obm55

[Garbagelo]

Imagine if its gonna be Rick Brunson

Would explain Jalen's play
Would explain the Divo comments in preseason
Could potentially be a backstabbing and sabotage job from many

[Capn'O]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

!!!!!!!!!!!!

This guy has the rare combo of actual insider info and theatrics

That sounds like "not Bryant."

[matchman]

Maybe a bit off topic….but did anyone notice Thibs hands during his post press conferences during playoffs?….my wife and I noticed they were shaking in an odd way…like maybe he was starting to have health issues….nit sure that has anything to do with his firing…..just an observation

Wow really