Employed in 2020, Thibodeau went 226-174 with the Knicks. He grew to become the primary coach since Mike Woodson (2012-14) to finish his tenure with a successful document and elevated a franchise that had been irrelevant for many of the 2010s.
Whereas Thibodeau ought to be celebrated for what he achieved, together with main New York to the Jap Convention Finals for the primary time since 2000, the Knicks wanted to make this transfer.
The group has a proficient core, and it is honest to surprise if Thibodeau acquired it so far as he might.
Regardless of being thought of one of many sport’s prime defensive-minded coaches, the Knicks could not cease the Pacers of their six-game collection loss, permitting 116.8 factors per sport.
With the group’s greatest stars, level guard Jalen Brunson and middle Karl-Anthony Cities, struggling defensively, Thibodeau’s model did not mesh with the group’s prime expertise.
The Knicks want a coach who can maximize their offensive strengths whereas minimizing their defensive liabilities. With a finite variety of seasons as a bonafide contender, they could not anticipate (or count on) Thibodeau, 67, to turn into that coach.
Thibodeau additionally relied extra closely on his starters than every other coach, taxing the unit with substantial minutes. That wear-and-tear is not sustainable, and New York’s starters would probably have been subjected to the identical utilization in 2025-26 beneath Thibodeau.
The choice might backfire, however with some wonderful candidates in the marketplace, together with lately fired former champion head coaches Michael Malone and Mike Budenholzer, plus youthful former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, New York has intriguing choices to get the group again to the NBA Finals.
It is cheap to be skeptical of the Knicks, who we have grown accustomed to seeing get issues improper extra usually than they get it proper.
Thibodeau’s firing comes with dangers, however sustaining the established order would have had its personal penalties.
As a substitute of taking the identical method and anticipating a unique final result, New York is attempting one thing totally different. What’s so loopy about that?
