The New York Knicks made a big change on the bench, and it’s drawn plenty of reactions.
After falling to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau and began an intensive coaching search. While the move was surprising, attention quickly turned to the Knicks’ coaching search and who might soon replace Thibodeau.
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After trying to acquire sitting head coaches on other teams to no avail, the Knicks eventually landed on Mike Brown as their new bench boss. While Brown could be a great coach in New York, his hiring made it easier to reflect on who the Knicks fired.
Thibodeau has been widely respected around the league for some time, and while some have criticized how he uses his players, one former player was quick to praise him. Isaiah Hartenstein just won an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he spent the previous two seasons with the Knicks playing under Thibodeau.
“He did a great job there,” Hartenstein said on a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen Show. “At the end of the day, the Knicks have to do what’s best for them, but for me, Thibs was great for me. He was a great coach.”
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With Hartenstein starting at center, the Knicks finished the 2024 season a win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. While he left for Oklahoma City in the offseason, it’s clear that Hartenstein appreciates his time in New York and the coach who helped him take the steps to become the champion he is today.