The New York Knicks are actively seeking their next head coach following the unexpected firing of Tom Thibodeau on June 3. The organization is navigating its coaching search as Yahoo Sports continues to monitor developments.
So far, the Knicks have faced obstacles in interviewing several current NBA head coaches. They reached out to the Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Chris Finch, Houston Rockets’ Ime Udoka, and Atlanta Hawks’ Quin Snyder, but all requests were declined. The Chicago Bulls also turned down the Knicks’ interest in head coach Billy Donovan.
In light of these setbacks, the Knicks are shifting their focus to former NBA coaches. They have already conducted interviews with ex-Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and ex-Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown. Additionally, Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori was added to their candidate list on June 24. Jenkins and Brown both experienced surprising firings after guiding their teams to playoff appearances, which raises the potential for one of them to lead the Knicks through a challenging Eastern Conference.
Thibodeau, who energized the Knicks since his hiring in 2020, helped transition the franchise back to competitiveness with back-to-back winning seasons and a significant playoff run. The Knicks achieved their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in over two decades under his leadership. Despite these accomplishments, including two consecutive seasons with over 50 wins, Thibodeau’s recent dismissal came on the heels of the Knicks’ playoff exit against the Indiana Pacers.
Leon Rose, the president of the Knicks, expressed in a statement that the decision was made with the organization’s future in mind, highlighting Thibodeau’s contributions while recognizing the need for a fresh direction.
While the team has been turned down by several big names, there remain potential candidates such as Michael Malone, who is recognized for winning the championship with the Denver Nuggets, and Mike Budenholzer, who is celebrated for his success with the Milwaukee Bucks. Luke Walton and Darvin Ham have also been mentioned as possible options.
The Knicks still possess a strong pool of candidates and could potentially see former players or other established coaches stepping into the role, providing hope for a promising future as they aim to clinch their first NBA championship since 1973.