The New York Knicks have relieved Tom Thibodeau of his head coaching duties, ending his five-year tenure with the franchise.
The decision comes three days after the Knicks were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals by the Indiana Pacers.
Thibodeau, 67, leaves New York after posting a 226-174 record across five seasons. His final campaign saw the Knicks finish 51-31, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference and their deepest playoff run since 2000.
The Numbers
The 2024-25 season marked several milestones for the franchise under Thibodeau’s leadership. The 51 wins matched their highest total since the 2012-13 season. The team made four playoff appearances during his tenure, compared to one in the seven seasons before his arrival.
In the playoffs, New York defeated Detroit 4-2 in the first round and upset defending champions Boston 4-2 in the semifinals. The Pacers ended their run with a 4-2 series victory in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Thibodeau’s regular-season record against elite competition raised questions throughout the year. The New York Knicks went 0-10 against the top three teams in the league – Boston, Oklahoma City, and Cleveland – before the playoffs began.
Roster Changes
The Knicks made significant moves ahead of the 2024-25 season. They acquired Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn for five first-round picks and traded Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns just before training camp.
The team also re-signed OG Anunoby to the largest contract in franchise history. These moves were designed to complement point guard Jalen Brunson and create a championship-calibre roster.
Playoff Performance
During the postseason, the Knicks’ starting lineup posted a negative plus-minus despite the team’s success. Thibodeau made adjustments to his starting five after falling behind 2-0 to Indiana, including benching some regular starters.
The team’s Game 1 loss to the Pacers highlighted ongoing concerns. New York held a 14-point lead with under three minutes remaining but lost the game. Similar late-game struggles had been a recurring theme throughout Thibodeau’s tenure.
Organisation’s Statement
Team president Leon Rose addressed the decision in an official statement. “Our organisation is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans,” Rose said. “This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction.”
Rose credited Thibodeau with leading the team “with class and professionalism” and achieving “tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories.”
Player Support
Jalen Brunson publicly supported his coach during the playoffs when asked about Thibodeau’s job security. “Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe that he’s the right guy? Yes. Come on,” Brunson told reporters before leaving the podium.
Karl-Anthony Towns also expressed disappointment about falling short of championship expectations. “You make the moves to win, so it hurts to not be able to bring an opportunity to the city for a championship,” Towns said.
Coaching Style Questions
Throughout his career, Thibodeau has faced criticism for his demanding approach and heavy reliance on his starting players. These concerns followed him from Chicago to New York, though the Knicks showed improvement in his five seasons.
His overall NBA coaching record stands at 527-389 across stints with Chicago, Minnesota, and New York. He reached the NBA Finals once, with the Bulls in 2011, where they lost to Miami.
Contract Situation
Thibodeau signed a three-year contract extension with the Knicks last summer following their second-round playoff exit. His dismissal means the organisation will absorb the remaining years on his deal whilst searching for a new head coach.
Looking Forward
The Knicks now begin their search for a new head coach with an established core of Brunson, Towns, Bridges, and Anunoby. The roster construction suggests the franchise believes it has championship-level talent that requires different leadership to maximise its potential.
New York hasn’t won an NBA championship since 1973 and last reached the Finals in 1999. The organisation’s stated goal remains bringing the franchise its first title in over 50 years.
The coaching change represents the latest attempt by the Knicks to find the right combination of talent and leadership to end their championship drought.
