The Knicks are parting methods with head coach Tom Thibodeau, who led New York to their first Jap Convention finals in many years and 4 playoffs in 5 years, the staff introduced Tuesday.
“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction,” the assertion started. “We can’t thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories.”
“Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward,” it continued. “Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
The Knicks had been eradicated by the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, leaving them with no championship since 1973. The staff went additional than they’d gone in 25 years, simply not so far as they hoped.
They signaled they had been critical about making a run on the NBA title after they traded for Mikal Bridges in the summertime after which Karl-Anthony Cities in a preseason blockbuster, including a prime perimeter defender and an All-Star middle to a lineup headlined by Jalen Brunson.
Their all-in strikes simply could not get all of them the best way there.
BREAKING: The New York Knicks are relieving Tom Thibodeau of his duties as head coach, sources inform ESPN. Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first East Finals in 25 years, made playoffs in 4 of 5 years and led Knicks to consecutive 50+ win seasons for first time because the Nineteen Nineties. pic.twitter.com/B7w8KhoEcF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 3, 2025
After Boston rolled to the 2024 title and introduced again all its key gamers, the Celtics had been considered as sturdy favorites within the East. But after constructing steadily since Leon Rose’s arrival as staff president in 2020, the Knicks weren’t conceding something to the champions.
They re-signed OG Anunoby to the most important contract in staff historical past, then traded 5 first-round picks within the deal to accumulate Bridges from Brooklyn. Simply as they had been set to start coaching camp, the Knicks dealt two starters in All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who had simply set their single-season 3-point document, to get Cities from Minnesota.
The strikes made the Knicks adequate to get previous the Celtics within the second spherical. However it turned out to not be the suitable roster towards the deep and speedy Pacers, who knocked them out for the second straight season.
“You make the moves to win, so it hurts to not be able to bring an opportunity to the city for a championship,” Cities stated. “We’ve got a bunch of great guys in that locker room and the plan now is just to put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time.”
First, Rose and the entrance workplace must consider simply how shut the Knicks actually are.
Their 51-31 document left them a distant third within the East behind Cleveland and Boston, they usually went a mixed 0-8 towards these groups within the common season earlier than they completed off the Celtics within the second spherical after Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in Recreation 4.
With two All-NBA choices in Brunson and Cities, the beginning lineup is without doubt one of the NBA’s strongest. The bench might use a lift, because the Knicks lack the stable depth of the Cavaliers and Celtics — and positively of the Pacers.
Nonetheless, after being largely miles away for twenty years, the Knicks have turned themselves right into a contender. They’ve gained 50 video games in back-to-back seasons and made the playoffs in 4 of 5 beneath Thibodeau. Even after Saturday’s defeat, there was perception that the Knicks will get one other shot quickly.
