The New York Knicks have dismissed head coach Tom Thibodeau, ending his five-year tenure with the franchise.
The decision was first reported by NBA insider Shams Charania, who stated the Knicks are “singularly focused on their pursuit of a championship” and believe a change in leadership is necessary to reach that goal.
Thibodeau’s firing comes just days after the team was eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, marking New York’s deepest playoff run since 2000.
Despite strong backing from franchise cornerstone Jalen Brunson and reported support from the front office, the organization opted to move in a different direction.
Under Thibodeau, New York compiled a 51–31 regular season record, good for third in the Eastern Conference, and defeated both Detroit and Boston in the first two rounds of the postseason.
The Knicks won 50 or more games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1990s, while also clinching their first playoff series at Madison Square Garden in over two decades.
Thibodeau, who won NBA Coach of the Year in 2021, led the franchise to four playoff appearances in five years after the Knicks had only made the postseason three times in the previous 19 seasons.
There is no immediate word on potential replacements, but league sources expect New York to pursue candidates with championship experience and strong player development track records.
The 67-year-old’s departure opens one of the most attractive coaching vacancies in the league, as the Knicks are viewed as a team on the cusp of serious title contention.
With a roster built around Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson—plus a deep asset pool—the next head coach will inherit a high-expectation situation in the heart of Manhattan.
