The New York Knicks have begun their search for a new head coach after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau, and two prominent names have surfaced as potential targets.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Knicks are interested in Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka, despite both currently being under contract with their respective teams.
Thibodeau’s dismissal was first reported by Shams Charania, who stated that the Knicks are “singularly focused on their pursuit of a championship” and determined that a leadership change was necessary to reach that goal.
New York’s decision comes after the franchise reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, ultimately falling to the Indiana Pacers in six games.
Despite compiling a 51–31 regular season record and earning the East’s No. 3 seed, the front office opted to move on from the 67-year-old, who led the team to four playoff appearances in five years.
Under Thibodeau, the Knicks secured back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time since the 1990s and clinched a playoff series at Madison Square Garden for the first time in over two decades.
Stein reported that while Kidd and Udoka are not available, they are “said to interest the Knicks,” though early signs suggest both franchises are unlikely to grant permission for interviews.
A Rockets source told The Stein Line that Houston would “categorically” deny any request to speak with Udoka, who just led the team to a 52–30 record and their first Southwest Division title since 2020.
The Mavericks’ stance on Kidd is less definitive, though expectations are that Dallas would also decline any approach by New York, especially with Kidd under contract and fresh off winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.
Despite a turbulent season that included trading away Luka Doncic and missing the playoffs, the Mavericks appear committed to continuity with Kidd at the helm.
