Fresh off their deepest playoff run in 25 years, the New York Knicks made a shocking move on Tuesday — they’ve officially fired head coach Tom Thibodeau.
This decision came just three days after the Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in a hard-fought six-game battle during the Eastern Conference Finals. While the loss stung, it followed an inspiring playoff journey where a refreshed Knicks squad stunned the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round — a team they hadn’t beaten once all regular season.
Thibodeau, who earlier this season leapfrogged Pat Riley to become fourth all-time in franchise coaching wins, had just guided New York to consecutive 50-win seasons — something the franchise hadn’t seen since 1995. Without question, he was the most successful Knicks coach in over two decades, and he even signed a three-year extension last summer.
Yet, the front office decided it was time for a change.
“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,” said team president Leon Rose in a statement. “This drive led us to the tough decision to part ways with Tom Thibodeau. We are immensely grateful for the passion, effort, and heart he brought every single day as the New York Knicks head coach.”
Rose added, “In the end, we chose what we believe is best for the team moving forward. Tom will always be part of the Knicks family, and we genuinely wish him nothing but success ahead.”
Thibodeau’s history with the Knicks runs deep — back in the 1990s, he served as an assistant coach under Jeff Van Gundy. One of his assistants, Rick Brunson, played on those same squads and would often bring his son — now Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson — to games and practices.
When asked about Thibodeau's future right after the Knicks were knocked out by Indiana, Jalen Brunson didn’t hold back:
“Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy? Yes. Come on.”
The Knicks pulled off a massive upset against the Celtics, despite being swept by them during the regular season — three of those losses were double-digit blowouts. They did it with a revamped roster, too.
The front office shook things up by trading five first-round picks for Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges, then flipping Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota in exchange for All-NBA big man Karl-Anthony Towns. The blockbuster deals trimmed the Knicks’ depth but created one of the most stacked starting lineups in the league.
True to form, Thibodeau, known for his old-school approach and reliance on his top guys, rode that starting five harder than any other lineup in the NBA — even in this modern load-management era where teams prioritize rest.
The Knicks marked Thibodeau’s third head coaching gig in the NBA. Before landing in New York, he led the Chicago Bulls (2010–15) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (2016–19).
His .579 career winning percentage is the highest of any NBA coach with over 300 games without reaching the Finals.