NBA

Knicks fire head coach Tom Thibodeau

There was talk of Thibodeau being on the hot seat all season, so this move isn’t exactly surprising. This decision is, however, a sign that the Knicks are drawing a line in the sand. It’s now abundantly clear who New York feels was holding the franchise back.

There’s two ways to look at this firing, and I’ll start with the pro-Thibodeau one. The Knicks will be hard pressed to find a more accomplished head coach for this post than the man they just fired. Boasting nearly 1,000 career wins, Thibodeau has won to some degree at all three of his stops — Chicago, Minnesota, and New York. He’s known for his defense-first mindset, and it’s served his teams well in the regular season. Good luck to the Knicks in finding a leader that grinds at his job like Thibodeau.

On the other side of the coin, Thibodeau’s chief weakness is well-documented. In essence, his biggest strength has been his downfall. Thibodeau absolutely runs his most trusted players into the ground. Now, it’s fair to consider that the best players in today’s game play less minutes than ever, but the point stands; Thibodeau isn’t as keen on rest as his peers. That’s a perfectly fine philosophy for winning games, but it clearly wears on his players, and it’s possibly why he’s been dismissed three times.

The Knicks’ summer is going to be fascinating. Replacing Thibodeau will be the first and top priority, but a reconfiguration of the roster is needed. Namely, New York needs to add reliable depth, especially with a new coach that’ll surely utilize a deeper rotation. There isn’t much wiggle room to adjust or build around the organization’s core, so shrewd moves along the margins will be needed to craft a true contender.

The Knicks are close, especially in a wide-open Eastern Conference. The Thunder loom as a potential dynasty out West, but on New York’s side of the country, glory is a bit more attainable. It’s fair to expect a better Knicks team in 2026, but hitting on the next head coaching hire is paramount.

Grade: C+