Tom Thibodeau is expected to remain the Knicks’ head coach beyond this season, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reports.
There has been rampant speculation regarding Thibodeau’s status during the team’s disappointing season.
There’s been some internal support to move on from Thibodeau and owner James Dolan had granted the front office permission to decide whether he remains the head coach, according to Fischer’s sources.
However, president of basketball operations Leon Rose has no plans to make a change — Fischer notes that Rose and Thibodeau been trusted allies since the hiring process in 2020. The Knicks interviewed 11 candidates before picking the former Bulls and Timberwolves head coach.
Thibodeau has three years left on his five-year contract.
Reports surfaced last month that Knicks exec William Wesley blamed the team’s ills on the head coach. However, Thibodeau has maintained a good relationship with Dolan, speaking with the owner following each game and often visiting the owner’s box.
While Rose is reclusive, rarely speaking to the media, Thibodeau has emerged as the team’s official spokesperson. That has helped his cause, Fischer adds.
There’s also no obvious veteran choice in the market to replace Thibodeau and the front office isn’t convinced associate head coach Johnnie Bryant would be a better option. Another current assistant, Kenny Payne, is a candidate to leave New York for Louisville’s head coaching job.
Lol Knicks. Who are they trying to outdo the Kings?
So this confirms that next year’s roster will be another one built with a 90s vibe, and a harebrained goal of making the playoffs even though they don’t have a playoff caliber roster..
The Rose hire is starting to feel closer to the Mets hiring BVW a few years ago, than it is to the Dubs hiring Myers..
Typical Knicks nonsense
Knicks going to Knicks…lol
Sorry, Cam.
Ok then build a team around Randle …
Ugh. Going back to sleep. Not what I needed to see first thing in the morning.
So now what about trading RJ+Fournier (or Fournier+Cam + picks) for Donovan Mitchell ??
If there was a way for the Knicks to trade all their 1st round draft picks for the five years maybe. Especially if you including Fournier in the trade.
Why on earth would the Jazz do this?
They wouldn’t
Why not trade Randle for Luka while you’re at it trade Grimes and Reddish for Jokic?
Look at what happened with Simmons, Harden, KY … Anything is possible if UTah lose in the 1st round
This definitely makes it easier to stay away.
He’s a terrible coach and a terrible manager.
I wouldn’t even play for him.
Even if you were signed you wouldn’t play anyway.
Emac.
We know. You have rejected so many of their contract offers to play for them.
Who are you going to sign with?
I used to like Thibs, but that was ten or more years ago… At this point he could be a great assistant coach, he is not a leader in this era of the league.
Excellent point
We’d love to have him as an asst coach here in Miami
Usually this is what teams say just before firing someone…
Dumb move. He’s just not cut out for todays NBA. He’s too old school. Thibs should revert back to being an assistant. Knicks need a players coach who can relate to young stars like RJ who will be the face of this team.
I don’t even know what to say. This can’t be real. Oh wait, it’s the Knicks.
**** **** ******* **** *** ****
Congratulations, Knicks fans!
Can’t imagine this makes Knicks fans very happy. Well we know which coach starts out next year on the firing hot seat first. So much for the whole hire a president who hires a GM who hires a coach plan I came up with.
They hired an agent, who hired a buddy, then hired former clients.
Damn, pray for Obi Toppin. Man is never gonna get minutes…
It’s because of his relationship with Leon Rose most likely
I used to like him but I agree with the post about his old school approach
He’ll never have a team like he did with the Bulls
That was a Thibs type team built for his coaching style
I feel sorry for the Knicks man…
I don’t understand the hate for this man. Got the Knicks the fourth seed last year and coach of the year when the Knicks hadn’t made the playoffs in 10 years. The real reason the Knicks aren’t doing anything is the roster construction. Randle and Barrett are a both players that are third best on a big 3. Neither is good enough to be a first option
This guy knows what he’s talking about.
Thibs is undoubtedly a part of the problem. But he’s far from the only problem, and likely not the biggest problem. That would be the front office.
Thibs is definitely a huge problem. He got them to the playoffs last year only because Randle had a crazy year and Rose was actually healthy and playing. Then you saw how his style of grinding his players down to a nub during the season worked in the playoffs. They were outplayed, outcoached.
The roster does suck, but do not absolve Thibs here. Bad rotations, won’t play young players, leaves his starters out too long, unimaginative offense, etc.
Some everyone wants another Head coach so we can make it like 1,20230 coach in the last 6 years? He’s the only coach to get anything out of these s**t Knicks teams but we gonna boot him so we can start new once again…you can see the ignorance on this board.
Knicks need a PG & he’s refused to play a young PG that’s been on the roster since day 1. Only gets him mins when pressed into it.
I’m willing to bet that you’re one of the individuals who don’t realize that Thibs refused to play a young Jimmy Butler in his rookie season (8 minutes a game), then sporadically in the first 39 games of his second year — before giving him heavy minutes in the last 14 games of season #2 & then for the rest of his tenure coaching the man.
So when there were articles about the Knicks needing to find a PG, after the Kemba shutdown, while our PG rotation was Burks (not a PG) and Quickly (not a PG) — its fair to say “what the **** Thibs?”
If Thibs has job security, get a look at all of the young guys – regardless of health of the roster. As we sit right now, we have no clue whether it’s worthwhile to give McBride a roster spot next season.
For context, the Blazers have more NBA, in-game, data on Brandon Williams than the Knicks have on McBride right now. That’s unacceptable.
You should look at McBrides G-league stats. He’s played plenty there. I too wish he would play now. He’s here to stay. It’s not Thibs call. He’s only the coach here.
link to stats.gleague.nba.com
Yawn ….. there’s absolutely nothing new to absorb here. I doubt anyone knows what happened this yr or really cares. But critics we got plenty. So a guys second yr in (Thibs). And what. What’s with the drama. How about they finish what they started. Yr two is not even over yet. And critics got answers.
Media needs to sell. So they’ll go with any take. What’s your concern.
Knicks are rebuilding. They took a step back this yr. It should mean a better pick. What’s wrong with that when you are rebuilding. En ok Warriors sucked for two yrs. They got Wiseman, Poole, Kuminga. Moody out of it. I just hope Thibs doesn’t fall apart.
Trade up for Mathurin … I guarantee that’s the answer to this yr. Rebuild Rebuild it’s simple …. Rebuild
Only the 2k’ers can be surprised by this. I’m guessing that their views on the actual sport might matter between and among them, and, not being too bright, they confuse that with it mattering to anyone who actually matters.
Among people who know the game, and understand what coaching is (and isn’t), Thibs is recognized as an elite HC. By all accounts, nobody else who cashes a Knick paycheck is as good at their job as Thibs is at his. About the only reason to fire him would be to tank.
Yeah cause you need more proof that Thibs is terrible.
Simple fixes. Everyone they need is a FA or already kn the team. Deng, Boozer, Hinrich, Korver, Taj and DRose. Band is getting back together.
Wait a minute. Didn’t the Knicks and every NY fan and media praise him as the 2nd coming last season? What a JOKE