The New York Knicks’ efforts to find a new head coach hit a wall this week after being denied permission to interview two high-profile candidates.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Knicks reached out to both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets for permission to speak with Chris Finch and Ime Udoka, respectively, but were turned down by both organizations.
New York is currently searching for a replacement after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau, who led the team to a 51–31 regular season and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Despite back-to-back 50-win seasons, the front office opted for a leadership change in pursuit of what was described as a “singular focus on a championship.”
Finch, who guided the Timberwolves to a 49–33 record and the West’s No. 6 seed and the Western Conference Finals, remains under contract in Minnesota and is not expected to be made available.
Udoka, meanwhile, recently completed a successful season in Houston, helping the Rockets finish 52–30 and win their first Southwest Division title since 2020.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is another name of interest in New York’s search, although no official request has been made. Sources told ESPN that Dallas would likely reject any approach as well.
Despite the Mavericks’ struggles this season — including missing the playoffs after trading away Luka Doncic — the franchise appears committed to keeping Kidd.
Should the Knicks choose to pursue Kidd, league insiders believe compensation in the form of future draft assets would be required to secure his release.
While Kidd has ties to New York from his playing and coaching days, the complexity of acquiring a coach mid-contract has made the pursuit uncertain.
