New York Knicks move on from Tom Thibodeau and here’s why
USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes explains why the Knicks chose to move on from head coach Tom Thibodeau after years of improving franchise.
Sports Pulse
The New York Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, and the decision was stunning if only because it came on the heels of the franchise’s first run to the Eastern Conference finals in 25 years.
The Knicks announced Thibodeau’s dismissal just three days after their 2025 NBA playoffs ended against the Indiana Pacers ‒ and less than a year after he reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension to remain in New York. Thibodeau’s tenure with the Knicks lasted five seasons, culminating with consecutive 50-win campaigns for the first time since Pat Riley and Patrick Ewing were the stars at Madison Square Garden in the 1990s.
“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,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement announcing Thibodeau’s firing.
Thibodeau’s coaching style could be controversial because of how much he played his starters, but the results were unlike anything the Knicks had experienced in decades. New York won playoff series in three-straight seasons under Thibodeau, and the franchise hadn’t been to the conference finals since 2000.
Thibodeau, 67, previously served as the head coach for the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. His .579 career winning percentage is the highest by any coach without an NBA Finals appearance (minimum 300 games coached), according to ESPN.
Given all that, there was a wide range of reactions to the Knicks’ decision to fire Thibodeau among team supporters and NBA observers across the country. Some expressed appreciation, both for Thibodeau’s tenure and the championship goals that convinced the front office to move on from him. Others warned the Knicks are taking a major risk in getting rid of their best coaching hire in years.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most insightful and interesting comments made in the wake of Thibodeau’s time as the Knicks’ coach coming to an end on Tuesday:
New York Knicks fire Tom Thibodeau: Ben Stiller, NBA reactions
I am a Tom Thibodeau fan. He brought this team back. I felt he gave every bit of himself and was always looking to improve. I will always be grateful for how far he brought the Knicks. They are relevant again. They are championship contenders again. The Knicks became winners…
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 3, 2025
Tom Thibodeau arrived to New York in 2020, and transformed the Knicks from the joke of the NBA into a serious contender.
Thank you, Thibs. pic.twitter.com/or0FfSR7bI
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) June 3, 2025
Feel horrible for Tom Thibodeau. Based on merit — which is hardly ever the only consideration in the NBA — he got an incredibly raw deal.
Saved the Knicks from 20 years of dysfunction and incompetence, made them a perennial playoff team with consistent progression.
There’s no…
— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) June 3, 2025
Moving on from Tom Thibodeau is shocking, but not surprising, if that makes sense — a statement that the roster Leon Rose put together wasn’t getting maximized, and that taking the next step demands a new voice and a new set of eyes.
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) June 3, 2025
There was very loud noise during the first round, when New York was tied 1-1 with Detroit, that Tom Thibodeau’s job security was in jeopardy if the Knicks couldn’t get past the Pistons. This move happening after a run to the Eastern Conference finals is definitely a surprise.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 3, 2025
hope Leon Rose has a good option after firing Tom Thibodeau following Knicks’ Eastern Conference final loss to Pacers. he can be either the hero if this drama or his job is on the line if this doesn’t work out and Knicks don’t get to the finals. Thibs was a players’ coach. took…
— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) June 3, 2025
One of the main reasons why the Knicks turned into playoff contenders. Whether you agree with his coaching or not, Tom Thibodeau helped the Knicks succeed. Thank you for everything, TT67 pic.twitter.com/LFbnhM0uLC
— 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 (@AbdulCarterMVP) June 3, 2025
In the seven years before Tom Thibodeau got to New York, the Knicks made the playoffs zero times and had a .330 winning percentage.
In Thibodeau’s five years with the Knicks, they had a .565 winning percentage, made the playoffs four times and the conference finals once.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) June 3, 2025