Shams: New York Knicks Fire Head Coach Tom Thibodeau

[Zenzibar]

That's what I'm saying - it doesn't make sense that they are publicly going after coaches with current jobs and getting rejected. They are setting the fans up for a less than ideal hire.

You would think they would have a coached lined up already after firing Thibs...the whole thing is a bit bizarre to me. Maybe some handshake negotiations behind the scenes before they canned thibs.

Exactly. I don't think Rose is as stupid as these public rejections are making him look. The man's a successful agent. That takes being a snake to be successful. He's got someone lined up. That person's less than ideal. But when he brings that guy out, he can say Knicks have undertaken an exhaustive search for the best candidate, and this is the best available coach. Don't be surprised at some out of whack hire here.

No. The Knicks already have their guy in place and it won't be diappointing. This is all just about having the Shaqs and Barkleys of the NBA world get confused.

[JujitsuFlip]

Mr potato head and Jenkins? Jenkins is a good coach but perhaps too chill for the demanding New York media and fanbase. Mr potato head not leading the Knicks anywhere lol

I think with Jenkins, you're getting the exact opposite of ol' Thibby.

Grizzlies led the NBA in bench minutes in 2024-25 and Knicks were bottom 5.

Grizzlies were 11th in the NBA in bench minutes in 2023-24 and Knicks were bottom 5.

Grizzlies were 7th in the NBA in bench minutes in 2022-23 and Knicks were bottom 5.

Grizzlies led the NBA in bench minutes in 2021-22 and Knicks were bottom 5.

Grizzlies were 6th in the NBA in bench minutes in 2020-21 and Knicks were 19th.

Grizzlies were 7th in the NBA in bench minutes in 2019-20 and Thibs was taking a gap year.

[JonFromVA]

Noone wonders that it's quite funny that that Knicks are asking about coaches who they absolutely KNOW are not available. like Oduka and Kidd. You know Knicks have a thing about Dallas, i.e. the summer league visit by the team's brass to watch Brunson play.

So they very much publically asking permission to talk to Kidd and others. Thos is just ball-busting, specfic team owners and execs, and I bet you Dolan is having fun with it too.

There's a simpler answer: they're talking to the coaches their players indicated they'd like to play for, and they let it play out in public so those players would know they tried - OR - they just have some pissed off person in the FO leaking everything.

[G R E Y]

Who says no today?

[Curmudgeon]

I coached some high school ball many decades ago, and I'm available. But I will insist on 4 years guaranteed. I won't even ask for veto power on trades and draft picks. Let Leon buy the groceries.

[Capn'O]

Knicks in shambles merely weeks after making it the furthest they've ever been in 25 years. Some things never change

Doesn’t bode well for the franchise when options A-G fell through.

I appreciate the concern but we still have two all nba players, two elite role playing wings, two elite defenders, and a great sixth man under contract (Hart.) The coaching market contains three of the last six championship coaches and a ton of other playoff tested coaches plus some exciting newcomers like Bryant and Cassell. We're the only available coaching gig with one of the league's best rosters so we get our pick of the litter. We're gonna be OK.

[infinite11285]

Hear me out...player-coach and farewell tour? NBA ratings would jump off the charts.

[Karate Diop]

Knicks in shambles merely weeks after making it the furthest they've ever been in 25 years. Some things never change

Doesn’t bode well for the franchise when options A-G fell through.

I appreciate the concern but we still have two all nba players, two elite role playing wings, two elite defenders, and a great sixth man under contract (Hart.) The coaching market contains three of the last six championship coaches and a ton of other playoff tested coaches plus some exciting newcomers like Bryant and Cassell. We're the only available coaching gig with one of the league's best rosters so we get our pick of the litter. We're gonna be OK.

I'm going to want an updated take when the Knicks hire Mike Brown

[Capn'O]

Doesn’t bode well for the franchise when options A-G fell through.

I appreciate the concern but we still have two all nba players, two elite role playing wings, two elite defenders, and a great sixth man under contract (Hart.) The coaching market contains three of the last six championship coaches and a ton of other playoff tested coaches plus some exciting newcomers like Bryant and Cassell. We're the only available coaching gig with one of the league's best rosters so we get our pick of the litter. We're gonna be OK.

I'm going to want an updated take when the Knicks hire Mike Brown

Shouldn't you be busy coming up with unworkable nicknames for players who are gonna bounce out of the league in a year or two?

[Moose]

It's strange...seemingly many on this board thought that Thibs should have been fired, even after the playoffs run.

And many made fun of Thibs for certain decisions (ie bench, minutes, offensive scheme, defensive scheme, etc)

On top of that, plenty also stated the Knicks would never win a championship with and will leave guys like Brunson injured (just like Rose)...

Yet so many are now suddenly up in arms that he was fired.

I like Thibs. He's a good coach. He's dedicated. But anyone who watched the Knicks day in and day out deep down knew this was the right decision.

Now the team has to make the right hire and roster moves to get over the hump.

[JonFromVA]

It's strange...seemingly many on this board thought that Thibs should have been fired, even after the playoffs run.

And many made fun of Thibs for certain decisions (ie bench, minutes, offensive scheme, defensive scheme, etc)

On top of that, plenty also stated the Knicks would never win a championship with and will leave guys like Brunson injured (just like Rose)...

Yet so many are now suddenly up in arms that he was fired.

I like Thibs. He's a good coach. He's dedicated. But anyone who watched the Knicks day in and day out deep down knew this was the right decision.

Now the team has to make the right hire and roster moves to get over the hump.

It's not strange unless you track down post history and demonstrate people are flip flopping their opinion - just the nature of message boards.

[cgf]

100% agree. If the new coach gets to the 2nd round and loses but uses the bench more that should be considered a more successful season than the one Thibs had.

Thibs bench usage was only a problem for us this year. When we consolidated depth to bolster the starting 5 and our bench was hammered by injuries...Robinson missed ~60 games, Shamet missed ~30, Achiuwa ~20, with Payne & McBride each missing about a dozen. But when they were fit in the playoffs, he gave them enough burn to develop chemistry with the rotation guys...which is why the bench guys were able to step in in the playoffs when called into action.

And Thibs tried playing Toppin & Randle together every year, those lineups just got murdered defensively and Obi's shooting hadn't yet become reliable enough for him to play as a jumbo 3. And if you had to pick one or the other, Julius was clearly better. Indy is just a better fit for Obi and Obi's continued to improve since leaving the knicks...as he had been in NY.

But do you remember the love affair Thibs had with Burkes, while Quick was never given an early chance to develop?

You mean when IQ played 20mpg as a rookie? Or was that when he played 23mpg through his sophomore slump.

[Wingy]

Tatum down. Haliburton down.

They were always going to be compared to this year’s run. Now whoever gets this job will be expected to make the ECF based on pure talent as well.

Pressure keeps mounting on Coach TBD.

[Zenzibar]

Noone wonders that it's quite funny that that Knicks are asking about coaches who they absolutely KNOW are not available. like Oduka and Kidd. You know Knicks have a thing about Dallas, i.e. the summer league visit by the team's brass to watch Brunson play.

So they very much publically asking permission to talk to Kidd and others. Thos is just ball-busting, specfic team owners and execs, and I bet you Dolan is having fun with it too.

There's a simpler answer: they're talking to the coaches their players indicated they'd like to play for, and they let it play out in public so those players would know they tried - OR - they just have some pissed off person in the FO leaking everything.

Noone in the FO leaks, who would risk now only their jobs with the Knicks, but with any prospective organization that values confidentiality.

Ime Udoka, by proxy of the Knicks request just received a long-term extension. Ime (CAA) says thank you N.Y's Leon Rose (ex-super CAA executive agent).

This may lead back to Mike Malone (CAA) or someone else. For reference, these are a some coaches represented by CAA:

Sam Cassell
Taylor Jenkins
Mike Malone
Monty Williams
Mike Budenholzer
Erik Spoelstra
BrettBrown
James Borrego
Kenny Atkinson
Doc Rivers
Chauncey Billups

[Zenzibar]

Thibs bench usage was only a problem for us this year. When we consolidated depth to bolster the starting 5 and our bench was hammered by injuries...Robinson missed ~60 games, Shamet missed ~30, Achiuwa ~20, with Payne & McBride each missing about a dozen. But when they were fit in the playoffs, he gave them enough burn to develop chemistry with the rotation guys...which is why the bench guys were able to step in in the playoffs when called into action.

And Thibs tried playing Toppin & Randle together every year, those lineups just got murdered defensively and Obi's shooting hadn't yet become reliable enough for him to play as a jumbo 3. And if you had to pick one or the other, Julius was clearly better. Indy is just a better fit for Obi and Obi's continued to improve since leaving the knicks...as he had been in NY.

But do you remember the love affair Thibs had with Burkes, while Quick was never given an early chance to develop?

You mean when IQ played 20mpg as a rookie? Or was that when he played 23mpg through his sophomore slump.

I stand corrected.

[Zenzibar]

Hear me out...player-coach and farewell tour? NBA ratings would jump off the charts.

Cirque De MSG

[CoP]

How are Knicks fans feeling? I would have thought they'd have a coach in place for the draft, but maybe that doesn't matter. I am a bit surprised they haven't found anyone yet.

[Bob Ross]

How are Knicks fans feeling? I would have thought they'd have a coach in place for the draft, but maybe that doesn't matter. I am a bit surprised they haven't found anyone yet.

We do not allow ourselves to feel anymore, brother