The New York Knicks came closer than they have in 25 years to winning an NBA championship under former coach Tom Thibodeau. So the message was clear when the team’s stunning move this offseason was to fire Thibodeau after a successful five-year run: A trip to the NBA Finals is an expectation for the Knicks in the wide-open Eastern Conference in 2026.
New York eventually hired former Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown to replace Thibodeau after reportedly being rebuffed in several attempts to interview sitting head coaches from other teams. But the bold decision to move on from Thibodeau was still a topic of discussion when the Knicks reconvened on Tuesday, Sept. 23 for media day.
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Jalen Brunson, for instance, was asked for his reaction to Thibodeau’s departure given he became a star playing for the former coach. Brunson, who previously spoke about Thibodeau on his podcast in June, admitted there are complicated emotions attached to the situation.
“It’s sad to see a man I’ve known for a long time part ways with this organization, but he’s meant a lot to me,” Brunson told reporters. “I’ve expressed that to him, publicly and personally. But yeah, he’s meant a lot to my career to this point.”
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2025: Oklahoma City Thunder (beat Indiana Pacers in seven games)
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2025: Oklahoma City Thunder (beat Indiana Pacers in seven games)
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2024: Boston Celtics (beat Dallas Mavericks in five games)
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2023: Denver Nuggets (beat Miami Heat in five games)
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2022: Golden State Warriors (beat Boston Celtics in six games)
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2021: Milwaukee Bucks (beat Phoenix Suns in six games)
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2020: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Miami Heat in six games)
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2019: Toronto Raptors (beat Golden State Warriors in six games)
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2018: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in four games)
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2017: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in five games)
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2016: Cleveland Cavaliers (beat Golden State Warriors in seven games)
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2015: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in six games)
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2014: San Antonio Spurs (beat Miami Heat in five games)
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2013: Miami Heat (beat San Antonio Spurs in seven games)
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2012: Miami Heat (beat Oklahoma City Thunder in five games)
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2008: Boston Celtics (beat Los Angeles Lakers in six games)
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2005: San Antonio Spurs (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games)
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2004: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games)
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2003: San Antonio Spurs (beat New Jersey Nets in six games)
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2002: Los Angeles Lakers (beat New Jersey Nets in four games)
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2001: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Philadelphia 76ers in five games)
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1999: San Antonio Spurs (beat New York Knicks five games)
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1997: Chicago Bulls (beat Utah Jazz in six games)
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1996: Chicago Bulls (beat Seattle SuperSonics in six games)
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1995: Houston Rockets (beat Orlando Magic in four games)
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1994: Houston Rockets (beat New York Knicks in seven games)
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1993: Chicago Bulls (beat Phoenix Suns in six games)
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1992: Chicago Bulls (beat Portland Trail Blazers in six games)
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1991: Chicago Bulls beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
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1990: Detroit Pistons (beat Portland Trail Blazers in five games)
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1989: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in four games)
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1988: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games)
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1987: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Boston Celtics in six games)
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The Knicks fired Thibodeau three days after New York was eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. It was the franchise’s deepest playoff run since making the 1999 NBA Finals. Thibodeau led the team to back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time in 30 years.
Immediately after the postseason run ended, when asked by reporters about Thibodeau’s job status, Brunson took issue with the question.
“Is that a real question right now?” Brunson said at the time. “You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy? Yes. Come on.”
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The Knicks return much of their nucleus from last season, with Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart all back in the fold. Brown said Tuesday he plans to implement a faster tempo and perhaps utilize Brunson off the ball more. Hart said he recently reaggravated a finger injury he had offseason surgery on and it will likely force him to play in a splint this season.
But optimism abounds with the Boston Celtics and Pacers both hindered by significant injuries, even as Thibodeau’s presence still lingers over the organization.
As Brunson spoke about the team’s goal to not “talk about expectations and what people think we can accomplish,” his father poked his head into the media day news conference.
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“Speak well, son,” said Rick Brunson, the former NBA player and current Knicks assistant coach.
“They should’ve took him, too,” Jalen Brunson deadpanned back to the reporters in the room.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Jalen Brunson is ‘sad’ New York Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau